According to the traders, Ekurhuleni employees arrived in a truck along with members of the EMPD and allegedly set fire to their stock while seizing some of it.
“The metro employees came on Wednesday, July 23, without informing us (the traders) and destroyed our livelihoods. They set weighty goods on fire and seized the light items,” says one of the shattered traders, Gilbert Bambo.
Bambo has lost everything that belonged to him. “I am now facing difficult times. I do not even have money to pay my rent.”
The metro stands accused of burning down and seizing goods comprising benches, door kennels, blankets, drawers, wood panels, fruits and others items.
“I don’t think this is in compliance to the law. They should have just asked us to remove our belongings from the site,” says Wellington Dube.
“Why burn our stock? At least they should have warned us instead of burning our things. Or they should have just confiscated the items so that we could be able to reclaim after payment of the requisite fine.
“Clearly the government is denying us the opportunity to put food on our tables. We are not committing any crime here, we are just trying to make a living using our hands.”
Dube says that some of the hawkers are the only breadwinners.
“I’ve been working here since 2003. Now they say I must not sell here, where must we go? This is the only way I can feed my family and I can’t find a job. We would like to know who gave the instruction to destroy out stock.”
The traders claim that in the past the metro asked them to move a few metres away from the road so that pedestrians could easily walk, with which they complied.
They also add that for years, they have been trying to obtain legal permits to trade in the area, but their efforts were to no avail.
According to Wilfred Kgasago, EMPD spokesperson, the matter will be investigated. “As soon as we are done with our investigation, the outcome will be communicated.” – @FanieBoksburg
this is absolutely disgusting! how can the metro be so darn heartless!!! these people were making an honest living.. I drive past them every day and they haven’t ever been a problem, my boyfriend grandparents drove past them when the metros were burning there goods, she was absolutely distraught, makes me so angry!!! thank you for publishing this story..
This is disgusting, at least they are doing something to make a living and not stealing!!!Why burn the stuff???? If illegal they were prepared to pay the required fines!!!! I smell a BIG FAT RAT!!!!! What happended to the confiscated stuff???
I am so sorry that these heartless people have done this. I hope that these honest traders will find a way to get some form of compensation for this needless stupidity. Shame on you Boksburg metro! Remember that as you sow, so shall you reap – without fail. Please may these people take this terrible thing and become stronger for what they have experienced. Why dont the metro authorities focus on real crime rather than people who eke out a living!!!