‘Street vendors do need a place in the sun’
It is widely known that South Africa’s informal business sector, which includes spaza shops and vendors, is enormous.
According to some research, as much as 40% of food bought by consumers is done through this sector and 77% of consumers are serviced by them.
Spaza shops not only supply affordable food products close to their customers’ homes, but they also offer much-needed employment to hundreds of thousands of South Africans. According to Trade Intelligence, the value of this market was estimated to be around R157 billion in 2019.
Along the main street of Modimolle, there are numerous street vendor stalls doing business.
Though some have been trading from the same spot for years and have built up a loyal clientele, others are a source of chagrin to business owners and shoppers as untidy stalls block the entrances to shops and hinder pedestrians from walking on the pavement.
Local businessman Wiets Botes, who has several business properties on the main street, says that some informal traders do cause problems.
“Shop owners pay to have a shopfront in the main street to attract business but street vendors block this view. In the same breath it must the said that each vendor is able to earn an income to provide for their families and does not have to resort to crime to survive. They do need a place in the sun.”
The Modimolle-Mookgophong Municipality is currently holding public participation meetings for new by-laws that will regulate all street traders, hawkers and anyone else not using a formal business stand.
Meetings were held in Vaalwater and Alma on Wednesday April 12 and in Roedtan and Mookgophong on Thursday April 13. A last meeting will take place in Modimolle on Tuesday April 18 at 09:00 at the O.R. Tambo Hall at the municipality.
For more information, Marcus Shongoane can be contacted at 081 049 5823.
