Spar Malmesbury welcome business, just not our cars

Western Cape Aquatics recently hosted the Long Course A Champs in Malmesbury, drawing a large community of swimmers, clubs, families, and supporters. For five days, the towns of Riebeek Kasteel and Malmesbury enjoyed a meaningful economic boost through accommodation, restaurants, and general retail—something we were glad to contribute to.

However, despite supporting the local Malmesbury Spar, many of us were made to feel distinctly unwelcome. The parking area—large, usually quiet, and more than capable of handling the additional vehicles—was cordoned off, preventing gala attendees from using it. In effect, Spar was happy to accept our business, but not our cars.

While we fully understand the need to preserve space for regular shoppers, it would have been reasonable—and appreciated—if Spar had allocated even a portion of the parking to gala visitors, or introduced a small paid-parking section if needed. Instead, the approach taken felt unnecessarily exclusionary, and it left a bitter taste with many who experienced it. Numerous attendees commented on how contradictory and inconsiderate this decision felt coming from Spar’s management.

It’s worth saying that most locals in Malmesbury were wonderfully warm, welcoming, and hospitable. Unfortunately, Spar’s stance did not reflect that same spirit.