Informal traders want new policy to liberate them
JOHANNESBURG – Regional consultative workshops are expected to begin in March until June this year.
Men and women running small businesses by the side of the road are eager for practical solutions that would give them the liberty to operate without fear or prejudice.
This was a common concern for traders operating in some parts of Johannesburg who spoke in response to consultative workshops planned by the City of Johannesburg Informal Trade Unit on the draft Informal Trader Policy. The regional workshops with leaders and traders associations are expected to begin in March until June this year.
Although most of them were not aware of the existence of trader associations in the city, they said they hope the new policy will speak to the day-to-day struggles that they face in their bid to put bread on the table.
Thandeka Mthembu is a mother of six from Tembisa who sells fruit and food in her caravan in Woodmead. She started by selling fruit near the roadside in 2001.
Life has not been a bed of roses for her and her children since her husband left them. She sold fruit until she had saved enough money to buy her
R12 000 caravan in 2013 which grew her business and allowed her to sell food. She also employs her sister’s daughter and her niece in the business. She said she has lost count of the ‘unpleasant’ encounters she has had with the police in the past 18 years of being an informal trader. “We don’t have permits and each time the Metro police find us they confiscate our goods and property. We have to pay a R2 500 fine to have them released. That is a lot of money we do not have.
“Meanwhile, if we don’t work our children starve. We have no problem with abiding by the law but the law must also speak to people like me and accommodate us. I for one don’t even know where to start getting a permit.”
Khathutshelo Tshigomana took over the food business from her mother after she had finished matric. She also has a small caravan by the taxi rank in Woodmead. Her mother started selling by the roadside in the late 90s before she handed over the business to her in 2008.
She takes more than about two hours from Soweto to reach her trading spot spending R60 a day on transport. She also spends R350 a week to transport her caravan daily to a place of safety. “We would be very happy if the new policy could relax some by-laws to accommodate us.
“We would like the municipality to provide us with formal structures where we could operate and we could pay a small fee. I use this business to take care of my four children and help my siblings. We lose a lot of money due to stock theft and altercations with the police.”
Jabu Makwakwa sells car accessories to motorists. He said he made a decision in 2002 to choose selling various items over crime to take care of himself and his family after battling to find employment. “There are not enough jobs for all of us. I created one for myself.
“We want the government to work with us and not against us. The new policy must address the lack of resources and flexibility to work in some areas. We don’t want handouts, we want the freedom to work for our families.”
The new policy was formulated based on requirements of and historical problems experienced by informal traders. Director of executive support at the office of the MMC for Economic Development, Andrew Stewart said, “The City is continuing its interactions with informal traders on what their needs and challenges are in order to better effective trading. This process also involved a comprehensive head count of traders per region.”
Stewart said by January next year, they would have procured a new permit. By-law education workshops targeting informal traders will begin across all seven regions by April.
What do you think government should consider to allow free trade for informal traders?
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