Johannesburg's Makers Valley Empowers 50,000 Through Art

Six overlooked neighborhoods in central Johannesburg are becoming a creative powerhouse, thanks to one man's vision of what happens when communities work together instead of alone.

Hector Dibakoane grew up in Bezuidenhout Valley, one of the six historic suburbs east of Johannesburg's CBD that together house about 50,000 residents. These neighborhoods sat in a valley between two ridges, full of potential but struggling with high unemployment and neglect.

In 2018, Dibakoane helped launch the Makers Valley Partnership after researcher Simon Mayson began exploring sustainable economic solutions with locals. The idea was simple but powerful: rebrand these separate suburbs under one collective identity so individual makers could gain visibility and bargaining power.

Today, Makers Valley is home to independent artisans, carpenters, metalworkers, bakers, food gardeners, visual artists, and fashion designers who live and work in Bertrams, Bezuidenhout Valley, Judith's Paarl, Troyeville, Lorentzville, and New Doornfontein. Victoria Yards, a former early 20th-century steam laundry, serves as the creative heart where many makers have studios, shops, and galleries.

The partnership operates a resource lab offering computers, internet access, and training programs covering creative skills and practical business advice. New entrepreneurs get mentorship, start-ups find incubation space, and local businesses share resources rather than compete.

What makes this work is the collaborative spirit. Backyard coffee shops support local caterers, artists mentor new designers, and tech start-ups share workspace with urban farmers. The community protects its local economy by lifting everyone up together.

The Ripple Effect

The valley's transformation is visible in everyday ways. Teams from the Social Employment Fund now clean the streets regularly. Urban management company Local Abode tackles infrastructure issues like water leaks and pavement repairs that were ignored for years.

When 20,000 walkers passed through for the 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk the Talk event in July 2026, residents swept their yards, artists created fresh murals, and the whole community celebrated being in the spotlight. The event showcased the area's street art, including mosaics at the Jukskei River's Daylight Point, where the river emerges from underground.

Dibakoane, now CEO of the Makers Valley Partnership, runs his own sustainable fashion shop called Dese at Victoria Yards. The former dancer and longtime poetry and art event host embodies the partnership's philosophy of empowering high-unemployment communities through artistic expression and skills sharing.

The model is spreading hope beyond the valley as other neglected urban areas watch what collaboration and community pride can accomplish.