Rosebank Art and Craft Market

The Rosebank market has run in one form or another since the 1980s, on and around the rooftop of the mall, and it is where most visitors to Johannesburg buy the things they take home. What is worth knowing is that the stock is continental rather than South African: Zimbabwean stone carving, Congolese and Malian textiles, West African masks, Zambian basketry, beadwork from several traditions, alongside local ceramics and prints. Many traders are themselves migrants and the market functions as a trading floor for goods moving south. Prices are negotiable and expected to be negotiated, politely and without much drama. The rooftop location means shade and safety in a way street markets in the city do not offer, and Rosebank is directly on the Gautrain line from the airport and from Pretoria, so it is the easiest such market to reach in Johannesburg.

What you actually see

• Continental stock - Zimbabwean carving, West African textiles, Zambian basketry, not just local craft.
• The trading floor - migrant traders moving goods south through Johannesburg.
• Negotiation - prices are expected to be bargained, politely.
• The rooftop setting - shaded and secure, above the mall.

When to go

All year; Sunday is fullest. Two hours. Weekday afternoons are quiet.

Honest expectations

Some stock is mass-produced and repeated across stalls - look before buying. Pressure from traders can be persistent. Prices start high for visitors. Sections have moved around the mall over the years, so check the current location.

Nearby

The Keyes Art Mile is a short walk; the Johannesburg CBD is south.