JMPD removes Linden basket lady
LINDEN - A lady who sells baskets was apprehended by the JMPD
JMPD removes basket lady
Lesego Maja
lesegomaja@caxton.co.za
Linden residents are livid after the JMPD ambushed a local basket seller on 2 October.
While Ruth Ndwande, her daughter and her colleague were offloading the baskets, the JMPD apprehended them and attempted to seize their stock.
“They wanted to confiscate our baskets but we explained to them that we came to store them and not to sell them.”
Ndwande stores her stock in Margie Gertzen’s yard and has been doing so for approximately 10 years.
Gertzen has given Ndwande permission to sell outside her yard and has never had problems with her.
Resident, Guy Taylor, finds it unfathomable to remove someone who does not bother anyone while she makes an honest living.
“Eight JMPD officers swarmed all over the scene with three vehicles – a Toyota Quantam, a truck and a car – to forcibly remove them and prevent them from selling their wares. She doesn't cause a traffic congestion so why?” Taylor asked.
“We want answers.”
Another resident, Traci Farrell, felt the JMPD could channel such passion in curbing crime where it is needed.
“With all the crime in our area, the traffic violations from cars, buses and taxis running gauntlets through our streets and – on occasion – almost running down pedestrians, how exactly can metro justify wasting such man power and vehicles to remove an non-problematic vendor from our streets?”
JMPD spokesperson, Wayne Minaar, said they are allowed to confiscate goods if someone is selling illegally.
“JMPD has the right to remove traders who are in contravention of the bylaws, such as trading outside government buildings, in a bank or next to an ATM,” Minaar explained.
“We issue fines of R1 100 for perishable goods and R2 200 for non-perishable goods.”
Ndwande has been selling handmade baskets on the corner of 2nd Avenue and 8th street for years and is commended by residents for keeping the area clean. She and her colleagues have since moved to Parkview, in fear of another encounter with the JMPD. It is, however, not business as usual. Business has slowed down.
She was also issued a R200 fine by a representative of City Parks and Zoo a month or two ago.
