The issue of hawkers throughout Tzaneen remains a contentious issue.
Nathi Sedibe, Chairman of Limpopo Economic Development (LED) of Ward 15, spoke to the LETABA HERALD about the matter, “A lot of the hawkers operating are not even local to the area, they are from Zimbabwe and Namibia. One hawker may have as many as four to six tables in the street [Danie Joubert Street].”
Sedibe mentions that there are hawkers selling counterfeit sports clothes and shoes outside the doors of known high street sportswear retailers, “What are they saying to someone like Totalsports? They are jeopardising the jobs of maybe ten employees in those stores, all for one person outside. We are losing economy to these ‘non locals’.”
He further went on to say: “It is not about being xenophobic, they are selling counterfeit products. It is fraud, it is open criminality.”
“We have surrendered our shops to the hawkers, we have surrendered our streets to the hawkers,” says Sebide. He noted how brazen the hawkers have become, with one man reportedly illegally cooking chips on the corner right outside the police station, yet nothing is done.
Read: War declared on illegal hawkers in Tzaneen
Whilst high street stores contribute rates for water and electricity and provide employment opportunities, the hawkers pay nothing for their spot on the street.
Sebide and the LED are hoping to put an end to this and have been communicating with the office of the Mayor as well as the office of community service with the aim to issue a letter of notice to all the illegal hawkers, calling a collective meeting.
At the meeting, they aim to clarify the procedure of applying for permits and ensure that each hawker does apply.
Once a permit is issued, it will describe a certain sized area that the hawker can operate in. Monthly rates will then be implemented, to be paid to the municipality. Inspections will be carried out at random to ensure that the hawkers are acting legally and everything is above board.
All hawkers will be liable to produce invoices from where they have obtained the goods. For example, those selling fresh produce will need to show proof of purchase for the goods in order to prevent stolen fruit and vegetables being sold on.
Further to this, Sebide commented on the effect on local economy, “The tourists visiting the area, visiting the Kruger Park, don’t want to stop in the CBD. It is just too congested and over-run with criminals. They stop at the Lifestyle centre and then carry on.”
Sebide also calls for the demolishment of dilapidated buildings in the CBD, especially the old Checkers building, stating that such buildings have become the centre of illegal activities such as drugs, prostitution and are also where many of the illegal hawkers sleep at night.
