A brief history of the De Deur market
Category General News
Although shopping centres and malls are a huge feature for any town or city, it's nice to know that flea markets are still around. This enables the smaller traders and artisans to have an opportunity to make a living amid a sea of big brands and multinational corporations attached to the greater investment. Flea markets enable areas, suburbs and towns to create a community apart from larger enterprises. This is exactly what the De Deur Flea Market has achieved and today it stands as South Africa's largest flea market and auction.
The market itself also has a fascinating history surrounding it and was founded by Frank Mann, whose family has been living in and around the De Deur area since the times of the Anglo-Boer war.
Frank Mann was a drifter, however by the late 60's he found his feet as a prominent businessman in this part of the country. He had a keen interest in investing in properties for which he owned a fair amount. By the 70's Mann was a prominent auctioneer and after dabbling in many different forms of business he decided this would be his main focus.
"After several attempts at various business ventures, he decided to return to something that had alluded him - auctioneering. With the stock from his shop in Eloff Street, he set up on the property opposite the Caltex Garage in De Deur in 1974".
-https://www.walkervillesa.co.za/mann.html
Mann eventually found a more suitable plot of land on Cross Road not far from his original location, only 2 years later his application was approved to trade there.
"Many of his friends thought he was crazy for moving off the main road. When 500 cars arrived on an opening day in 1982 Frank walked off into the veld where no-one could see him, and burst into tears of joy and relief". - https://www.walkervillesa.co.za/mann.html
By the 90's he discovered that smaller items, where cumbersome for him to auction, so he decided to start renting stalls for a mere R25 a stand. This was the birth of the De Deur Flea Market and there were only 4 stalls on sight at the first market. Today there are more than 600 stalls trading or auctioning and this has given literally thousands of people work in the greater De Deur expanse.
"Tokyo Sexwale once visited the market and couldn't believe how many people generated their only income from their trading at the De Deur Fleamarket. It is hard to think that one man's dream has brought several thousand people together, and gives over a thousand people work".
-https://www.walkervillesa.co.za/mann.html
Today people from all over South Africa travel to De Deur to either trade, auction or sell various products at this market. Some even travel from as far off destinations, as the Free State, North West and Limpopo Province.
Flea markets such as this add to the character and economic development of the area. This is why other companies see the benefit of investing in destinations such as De Deur. One such company is one of the world's most reputable property agencies, Century 21. The company currently has 40 listed properties for sale in the De Deur region that all range in price and size to suit anyone's budget.
With worthwhile places to visit on a Saturday such as the De Deur Flea Market, it would seem that there really couldn't be a better time to invest in this great area. Century 21 has the experience to make your move to De Deur as easy as possible. Get in contact with one of their highly skilled brokers today and make your move as pain-free as possible.
Author: Century 21 South Africa
