WEB_PRE AND NEWSPAPER
The secretary of the Tshwane Barekisi Forum, Mary Ngema, has urged Pretoria residents to be extra careful this festive season.
“The festive season is the time where most hawkers and customers in Pretoria visit other provinces. Most people go to their other homes that are either in among others Limpopo, Mpumalanga or KwaZulu-Natal. For them to reach their destinations, they have to use either private or public transport.
“It is, however, extremely painful that a lot of people have died on our roads during the previous festive seasons. It is also unfortunate that some will die this December and January. Although we all have to die one day, it should not happen as a result of our negligence and misbehaviour. Behaving well this festive season will award us with more years to come,” Ngema said.
“We, therefore, should avoid drink and driving, driving above the speed limit, alcohol abuse, fail to adhere to lockdown regulations and over-spending money,” she said.
She said it should be everyone’s responsibility to be alive in January, “happy and financially free”.
“We can only do this if we look after ourselves and refrain from breaking the law.
“This year was one of the difficult years in terms of business. People were working from home and as a result, our target market declined severely in the inner city in such a way that we struggled to make a profit.
“We hope next year will be a good year.
“I wish our customers, entire residents of Pretoria and fellow hawkers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,” Ngema said.
jc / jo
