We did it! 🏆✨ Thanks to YOUR support, Oasis is officially the Best Thrift Shop in Cape Town!

We’re so proud to have won Best Thrift Shop in the Cape Tourism Awards 2025!

Thrifting has never been more exciting! Cape Town has become a hotspot for vintage gems, pre-loved treasures, and one-of a kind finds, and at Oasis, we’ve taken it to the next level.

Forget boring old thrift stores! Oasis Charity Shop in Claremont is a treasure hunter’s paradise! And the best part? By shopping at Oasis, you’re not just finding treasures, you’re empowering people with intellectual disabilities to live, work, and thrive in their community.

Best Thrift Shop in the Cape… that’s us! 🤩💚
Thanks for loving all things pre-loved! Sustainable style on a mission!

What makes the Oasis Charity Shops so special?

Oasis Charity Shop in Claremont is actually five shops connected, so get ready to spend some serious browsing  time. Everything here is pre-loved, and there’s a ton of cool stuff to explore:

• There’s a bric-a-brac section filled with unique homeware, trinkets, and vintage finds that will make your gran jealous.
• Fashion enthusiasts will be thrilled by the beautiful selection of clothing. Fashion lovers will fall in love with the fabulous clothes, sparkling jewellery, and stylish accessories waiting to be discovered, each piece with its own story and charm. You might even score a designer piece for next to nothing!
• Furniture and books are also well represented, so there’s something for everyone.

The staff are all super friendly and will happily help you on your shopping adventure.

And when you’ve found that perfect item, don’t forget to visit our on-site bakery for fresh muffins, Swiss rolls, or warm bread. Yum!

Oasis Charity Shops in Fish Hoek has levelled up with two fabulous shops — a book nook bursting with brilliant reads, and a bric-a-brac & vintage fashion shop filled with stunning,quirky, charming fashion finds. Come shop, explore, and treat yourself!

So, ditch the usual stores and head to one of the Oasis Charity Shops in Cape Town. You’ll have a blast hunting for treasures, and your good vibes will help people with intellectual disabilities.

It’s a win-win! So pop in!

Oasis Charity Shops Claremont

📍 Corner of Lee and Imam Haron Road, Claremont
🕰️ Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 4pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

Or pop into our Fish Hoek Charity shop

📍 Somerset House, 6 Recreation Road, Fish Hoek
🕰️ Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 4pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

With heartfelt gratitude to Cape Tourism, Africa Works, and all the generous sponsors for this incredible initiative honouring Cape Town’s Charity Shops, your recognition means the world to us.

https://www.capetourism.com/award-category/gold/

https://www.capetourism.com/thrift-stores-in-cape-town/

https://www.africaworks.co/

The Chair’s Report reflects a year of resilience, gratitude, and meaningful progress for Oasis, despite the deep loss of our beloved President, Rosemary de Waal.

The period saw strengthened governance, renewed staffing capacity, vital donor-funded improvements to our transport fleet and properties, expanded partnerships, and significant developments such as wage subsidies for 110 workshop workers.

Our day centres, houses, adult groups and protective workshops all continued to advance opportunities and dignity for people with intellectual disabilities, thanks to the unwavering dedication of our staff, volunteers, donors, and partners.

Together, we move forward with renewed purpose as we continue building hope, opportunity, and a more inclusive community for all.

Click here to read the Full Annual Report 2024/2025 

Click here to view the Annual Financial Statements

Nestled in the heart of Claremont, Oasis Charity Shops has earned its place as a nominee for the community’s Best Thrift Shop — not only for its unbeatable deals and quality finds but also for the heart and purpose behind every sale.

Step through the doors and you’re met with more than just shelves of affordable books, clothing, homeware, and vintage treasures. You’re stepping into a space driven by compassion and social impact.

Every purchase made directly supports the Oasis Association, which provides care and opportunities to intellectually disabled individuals. It’s a place where everyday shopping becomes a powerful act of giving.

Oasis Claremont stands out for its welcoming atmosphere, friendly staff, and thoughtfully curated stock. Shoppers return time and again for the thrill of thrifting — whether searching for a good book on a rainy day, revamping a wardrobe sustainably, or picking up unique décor pieces. New items are donated regularly, keeping the shelves vibrant and full of surprises.

And let’s not forget the mouthwatering selection of home-baked goods, including fresh breads and their legendary shortbread biscuits — a treat that keeps customers coming back for more.

The Oasis Charity Shops are also deeply embedded in the Claremont and Fish Hoek communities. Locals donate generously, knowing their preloved items will be appreciated by others and benefit a greater cause. The staff know their regulars by name, creating a warm, familiar, and inclusive environment.

What truly sets the Oasis Charity Shops apart is their blend of purpose and personality. It’s a place where you can find a bargain, make a difference, and feel at home — all in one visit.

In a world of fast fashion and faceless retail, Oasis offers something real: community, sustainability, and soul.

Oasis Charity Shops Claremont
Our charming Claremont village of shops.
Corner of Lee and Imam Haron Road, Claremont.

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 4pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00 pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Oasis Charity Shops Fish Hoek
Somerset House,
6 Recreation Road, Fish Hoek.

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am- 4pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Thank you for your continued support.

Did you know that Oasis offers a bulk shredding service for
confidential documents.

A Certificate of destruction is issued once shredding is complete.

Shredding process

• • • Done in an enclosed area.
    • Carried out by intellectually challenged beneficiaries.
    • No public access (to comply with POPIA regulations)

Charges

• • R4.50 per kg (depending on volume).
  • R250 collection fee (if collection is required).

No need to remove

• • Sleeves, paperclips, or staples or documents from files
    Oasis will handle it.

Should you need us to collect, we can arrange collection. Our collection times are as follows:

• • Monday to Friday: 10am – 1pm.
    R250 collection fee (if collection is required).

Invoice and payment

• • Invoice sent after collection and weighing.
  • Certificate of destruction issued after payment confirmation.

Please contact Beraldine recycling@oasis.org.za or call 021 671 2698 for more information.

Individual Drop-offs
(No charge for small volumes dropped off)

• Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 4:00pm
• Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00pm
• Drop-off location:
  Corner of Lee and Imam Haron Road, Claremont.

Please contact Beraldine recycling@oasis.org.za or call 021 671 2698 for more information.

If you need more information about our confidential paper shredding services please contact Beraldine at recycling@oasis.org.za

Oasis Charity Shops are proud to celebrate Second Hand September alongside other thrift champions across Cape Town! At the same time, the Oasis Association — providing opportunities to people with intellectual disabilities — salutes every generous soul who donates stock to our shops in Claremont, Fish Hoek, and Elsies River. 💚

Founded by Oxfam UK in 2019, Second Hand September has become a global movement that encourages us all to pause, reflect, and rethink our choices. It’s all about the circular economy: giving preloved items a new lease of life while reducing landfill waste caused by fast fashion and throw-away culture.

✨ Here’s the truth: our homes are often overflowing with things we don’t want, need, or use. By donating them to a charity shop, you can transform “clutter” into life-changing opportunities for others.

And Oasis is living proof of that impact. Recently nominated for a Cape Tourism Best Thrift Shop Award, our shops are often described as “a happy place” — where customers relax in Claremont’s tea garden over scones and legendary shortbread, browse shelves bursting with bargains, discover vintage treasures, or pick up functional items and freshly baked bread.

Executive Director, Gail Bester, sums it up perfectly:

“It is so important that every charity shop in Cape Town receives
public support. We are all doing our best to support the beneficiaries
of our varied work. At Oasis, just one clean, up-to-date book can pay for someone’s seat on our daily passenger buses and kombis.”

 

So this Second Hand September, let’s shop with purpose, declutter with heart, and keep the circle of giving alive. 🌸♻️

Shop Oasis.
Shop happiness.
Shop second hand.

📍 Oasis Charity Shops Claremont
Our charming Claremont village of shops.
Corner of Lee and Imam Haron Road, Claremont.
⏰ Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 4pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00 pm
✖️ Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

📍 Oasis Charity Shops Fish Hoek
Somerset House,
6 Recreation Road, Fish Hoek.
⏰ Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am- 4pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00pm
✖️ Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Thank you for your continued support.

It is with great sorrow I inform you that Rosemary de Waal, our much loved and respected Honorary President and long-standing member of the Oasis Association Board of Management, passed away on Tuesday 28 January 2025.  On behalf of the Oasis community, I send condolences to her family, circle of friends and all who worked with her.

Rosemary’s work with Oasis has left a considerable legacy in the field of intellectual disability.  Almost four decades ago, she played a key role as a social worker at an Oasis centre in Elsies River. As a volunteer in subsequent years, she served on numerous Oasis committees and was involved in developing day care centres in Ravensmead and Delft; group homes in Kenwyn, Claremont and Ruyterwacht and the current protective workshop in Elsies River.

Her unswerving loyalty to people with intellectual disability is best illustrated by many years of serving on the Board. She held various offices – Chair, Vice-chair, Trustee and signatory.  At the time of Rosemary’s passing, she was a member of the Board elected sub- committee working on the housing needs of ageing residents.

Rosemary was a volunteer extraordinaire. Oasis wasn’t the only beneficiary of her generosity, which to name some, embraced education, social housing, early childhood development, and intellectual disability. She invested resources, unusual time commitments and broad expertise in contributing to the development of sustainable, caring environments. In these contexts, her work was characterized by empathy, hope, humility and a commitment to ensuring the rights and dignity of vulnerable people.

She was an unassuming, quiet hero, who made an immeasurable contribution to improving the lives of so many.

 

Rosemary was also a valued colleague, mentor and friend to me. Over the years, we often met in my office garden, drinking copious cups of coffee and laughing at ourselves while we tried to solve the imponderables that life presented to us.

She had a lovely sense of humour, a sharp mind which would cut to the chase and above all, a heart which cared deeply for others.

Gail Bester
Executive Director

Increasingly, people are considering the environmental impact of their shopping and have started to look to charity shops as a primary source of fashion, books and home finds.

The popularity of shopping for preloved items has skyrocketed in recent years, especially as people are more conscious of their impact on the environment, on wasting less, and on supporting charitable causes.

Buying preloved clothing not only saves money but also prevents perfectly usable items from sitting in landfill, and mitigates the negative effects of fast fashion. Charity shops advocate for a reusable society by re-homing items that would otherwise be thrown out. It’s a win-win for everyone.

“You can buy so many great things second-hand, and it’s becoming so popular. I never used to buy second-hand items before, but since I’ve been regularly supporting Oasis Charity Shops, I have been amazed by the quality of what you can find. People donate really good quality items and there really is something for everybody.” Janette 

 

In 2023, Oasis recycled 2 663 tons of waste and found new homes for well over 200 000 items that might otherwise have gone to landfill.

Each of our Oasis Charity Shops is a treasure trove of used books, toys, games, household items, and fashion. Our Claremont shop has space to sell small furniture and art items, giving these pieces the opportunity for a new lease on life. It’s about encouraging people to reimagine furniture in their homes and creating awareness around upcycling furniture pieces.

“We get so many fantastic donations of furniture, and they’re often unique and special pieces that otherwise would have gone to landfill. It’s fantastic that we’re able to help people give them a second life.” Tarryn

We are also able to arrange collection for good quality, donated furniture that can be sold as stock in our charity shops. Please email Beraldine: recycling@oasis.org.za

As well as helping people to reuse and recycle their unwanted items, Oasis Charity shops play a vital role in supporting over 600 intellectually disabled beneficiaries. Our three Charity Shops support the services and opportunities that we provide to our beneficiaries, which include our day centres, workshops & group homes for intellectually disabled individuals.

📍 Oasis Claremont
Our charming Claremont village of shops.
Corner of Lee and Imam Haron Road, Claremont.
⏰ Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 3:30pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00 pm
✖️ Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

📍 Oasis Fish Hoek
Find us at Shop No. 4, Somerset House, 6 Recreation Road, Fish Hoek.
⏰ Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am- 3:30pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00pm
✖️ Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

📍 Oasis Elsies River
Located at 16th Street & 8th Avenue, Elsies River.
⏰ Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00am- 3:30pm
✖️ Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.

We thank you for your continued support.

Email us: info@oasis.org.za

Let’s talk books! Old, new, used, borrowed. Does it really matter? A good book is a journey, no matter the journey of the book. If you are not yet a convert to the thrift movement and are still teetering on the edge, here are six good reasons to convert to buying second-hand books.

The price.

Let’s cut to the basics. Price. This is probably the biggest and most obvious reason to buy second-hand books. If you’re an accomplished reader, buying books second-hand will make a huge difference to your wallet. You can buy ‘almost new’ or rare and hard-to-find second-hand books at a good charity book shop. A new book can be pricey. A good, pre-loved book is always affordable. And the great thing is, regardless of price, its magic remains unchanged.

The Environment.

Second-hand is not cheaper simply because its ‘second-hand’ or an inferior product, it’s cheaper because there are no hidden costs built into the resale. No hidden ink, paper, glue, and storage costs that still need to be covered.  That’s all paid up in full! So that little investment, has a much smaller carbon footprint. Plus, if you buy second-hand books from a charity shop, the stock is entirely from donations and supports a good cause.

Finding notes in the margins.

You may or may not agree, but there is something to be said about old books, with ‘To my beloved’ notes on the cover page, dated 1928. Yes, some people love to keep every book pristine, but sometimes finding a personal inscription or little note between the pages adds so much character to a book. It’s lovely to read why someone thought their friend would love that book, or which passages meant a lot to the previous owner. And just like that you are no longer strangers! That momentary glimpse through time, becomes a journey unexpectedly shared with a good friend.

“There are many little ways to enlarge your world.
But the love of books is the best of all” Jackie Kennedy

The pressure is off to keep it pristine.

I’m not sure how you feel about new books, but some can be rather intimidating. That wonderful new book smell screams to be preserved. The spine seems to weep and scar when you over-indulge and open too enthusiastically. It leaves you plagued with guilt for tagging the corner, no matter how small, or pencilling alongside a memorable quote. You feel irresponsible and neglectful, obligated to leave them as pristine as they are, perfect and unused. Not so, with used second-hand books. The pressure is off. The spine is already a little cracked and this leaves you free to just be and enjoy the journey.

Finding something new.

Life can do with a little more surprises. Every day, online, we order exactly what we need. A particular book, by a particular author, from a particular genre, at a particular price. And we get stuck, with no space or time for the unexpected! Not so in a second-hand bookstore. Unlike online or high price book stores where everything is organised and orderly, charity book shops are a journey of discovery. Some books are old, some new, some best sellers, some you literally cannot find anywhere else.

It goes to a good cause.

And yes, you guessed it, the five-star reason for shopping second-hand – is charity. In the case of charity shops like ours, all the funds raised from the sale of the books goes towards a great cause. Not only are you getting a bargain, but you’re also helping to support our intellectually disabled beneficiaries.

Here you can literally shop the world happy! It doesn’t get much better than that.

📍 Oasis Claremont
Our charming Claremont village of shops.
Corner of Lee and Imam Haron Road, Claremont.
⏰ Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 3:30pm
Saturday: 9:00am – 1:00 pm
✖️ Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

📍 Oasis Fish Hoek
Find us at Shop No. 4, Somerset House, 6 Recreation Road, Fish Hoek.
⏰ Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am- 3:30pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1:00pm
✖️ Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

📍 Oasis Elsies River
Located at 16th Street & 8th Avenue, Elsies River.
⏰ Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00am- 3:30pm
✖️ Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.

We thank you for your continued support.

Email us: info@oasis.org.za