The disruptor sets up her stall
FROM 1981 to 2006, Lange worked as an attorney in sole practice. “Then after 25 happy years, I sold my legal practice to a colleague who agreed, inter alia, to take all my long-serving staff, and I stood on the threshold of the next stage, wondering what to do.
I turned 60 in March 2016 and got thinking about career options for the rest of my life. My mother is a feisty 82 so the last phase is likely to be a long and energetic one.”
After travelling for a while, she came to a realisation: she would be an advocate.
“I did training for one year (2007) and then opened chambers and practised at the KwaZuluNatal Bar from 2008 to July 2016. It was exciting and stressful, but not sufficiently creative for me. I am still an advocate, but I have resolved that from January 2017, I will only take on cases that really interest me.” She is currently on sabbatical. “I heard an inspirational radio interview with a young Johannesburg ‘disruptor’ – this is the new name for business people who don’t just carry on ‘as usual’ – they change their space, innovate and disrupt to move forward, for themselves and those around them. I knew what to do: I would be a disruptor.”
She began looking around in Botha’s Hill, and realised that it was a town in transition, and was at risk of losing its easy-going, somewhat down-at-heel country feel, to new plastic and concrete – a la Hillcrest. Intervention was definitely needed.”
This was when she decided to establish the Botha’s Hill market.
She said: “So I took photos of the main road, and all its buildings, researched who owned what, and resolved to create a massive weekly craft, food, and activities market.”
She found a potential market site, but the owner wanted R 22 million for it.
“The other possible site was the Botha’s Hill Station, but dealing with Transnet would take months, possibly years, and waiting is not my style.”
She spotted a site at the corner of Old Main Road, and Rob Roy Crescent, with terraces and two entrances.
“We did not need infrastructure. My idea involved tent structures made of sarees, an itinerant market feel, not a built structure in sight, except, perhaps, for ablutions. A Bohemian Nomadic look …” There is also a pool at the site that will be open at future markets, and she plans on including a “tavern” in the structure on the property.
She has already received 70 requests to join the market.
“We don’t need another shopping centre: we need something that focuses on the arts and creativity.”
She said that until the market properly took off, for the first two there would be no fee for the stallholders.
“Already we have people making traditional, Indonesian
The market starts on Sunday (November 13). Visit www.bothashillmarket.co.za or contact Lange on 083 564 3335 for more information.