A chilly presence accompanies a silent Grahamstown winter as some 7 000 students are no longer bustling between High and New Street.
A chilly presence accompanies a silent Grahamstown winter as some 7 000 students are no longer bustling between High and New Street.
Many locals are relieved, while some business owners are feeling their absence. When walking through campus and into the city centre one notices an emptiness that is not found during term time.
Many shops are empty, the shelves at Pick n Pay don’t run out of crackling, and the blaring bass bouncing from packed student cars is no longer heard.
For local business owners, the lack of student trade causes a huge drop in their general turnover, although with the annual National Arts Festival starting on next week, the town is sure to generate business as well as a buzz of festive activity.
Speaking to the manager of Steers Grahamstown, Pierre Pienaar we gain insight into the expectations that the Festival brings and how local businesses adapt to the fluctuation in trade.
“When the students of Rhodes University have left for their holidays in previous years, we have seen a decrease in sales of up to 50%,” says Pienaar.
However, changes have been made to the current delivery system whereby customers will soon be able to send SMSes to place their orders.
Other local businesses such as the Rat and Parrot and Pick n Pay, have also noticed a drop in sales before and after university term time.
The Rat and Parrot’s bar manager, Dudu Nyakotyo claims that the bar does not lose business after the end of term.
“The locals as well as passing trade always back us up,” although he says there is a lack of “sillyness” as seen when the students are out and about.
Vuyiswa Antoni, a local street vendor outside the Drosdty Arch explained how she “suffered a lot last year during the Festival” but that during term time she received a lot of orders for her beadwork.
Grahamstown’s community has a large and lively student population that adds a very different element to the familial feel of the local city life.
The constant buzz of the students does wonders for local businesses, but their absence definitely brings a sense of calm.
