A leader of the informal traders in the CBD has quit her position in protest.
Mary Ngema announced on Tuesday that she had revoked her membership of hawkers’ body, Women in Action, because it had abandoned its founding promise.
“I made the decision to leave the organisation after realising Women in Action did not intend to represent the interests of all women in informal trade, as was agreed upon when it was founded,” Ngema told Rekord.
Tshwane Barekisi Forum and Women in Action both claimed the informal traders were divided for different reasons.
Exchanging accusations, the parties claimed the other was acting against informal traders’ best interests.
According to Ngema, more structures have emerged as a result of personal problems, “because people believe that being a leader comes with benefits that will serve their personal interests”.
Although the establishment of the numerous organisations may give the impression that there is democracy in this sector and that informal traders may choose to affiliate themselves with any organisation of their choice, Ngema believes this is the city’s ploy to disunite informal traders.
“We wish we were under the control of the provincial government, because we have no confidence in the city’s ability to handle issues related to informal traders.”
She expressed sadness that some individuals involved in founding new organisations were former members of the forum.
“If people have grievances, they should bring them up in front of the formal structure.”
She said an investigation into the matter was needed to develop the best possible resolution.
Despite having terminated her affiliation with Women in Action, she continues to work as secretary of competitor, Tshwane Barekisi Forum.
Forum former deputy chairperson Lily Sambo, reportedly among the women who have had enough of the organisation, said it was only promoting the interests of its chairperson not all informal traders, most of whom are women.
“Women in Action and Tshwane Barekisi Forum go together like oil and water. The two organisations cannot be combined,” Sambo said.
She asserted that the forum was for one person and that Women in Action was for all women in Tshwane.
“Most members of other informal trade organisations are acting in their own best interests,” she said, adding this was the cause of the conflict.
Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said any registered informal traders’ organisation with members is recognised by Tshwane.
“There are approximately five such organisations within Tshwane and these structures were not established by the city but by informal traders themselves,” Mashigo said.
He said it was important to note that there is a difference between regional informal traders committees and informal traders’ organisations.
“Informal traders’ organisations are established by members for their own self-interest, while regional informal traders’ committees are established by the municipality through election to represent the interests of informal traders in a particular region. Any member of the informal traders’ organisation can be elected to the regional informal traders’ committee.”
He said to unify the informal traders, Tshwane established regional informal traders’ committees and an apex informal traders body.
He said five regional committees were elected to a three-year term in 2016, the remainder didn’t elect because of infighting.
“Tshwane could not achieve its intention of establishing an apex body and the term of office of the elected committees lapsed before an apex body was established,” he said, adding that a letter to this effect was sent to the regional informal traders’ committees in 2019.
The regional committees aim to address issues of common interest to informal traders within a particular region and coordinate the affairs of informal traders in a collaborative manner, according to Mashigo.
The city revealed that it spent R12 million in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years to build phases 1 and 2 of the Marabastad informal traders market.
“The city has accepted a donation from the Department of International Relations and Co-operation and its private party to build stalls in Marabastad, East Lynne and Mamelodi,” he said.
Mashigo said it should be noted that the informal traders run their business for their own personal benefit.
“As entrepreneurs, they should focus on growing their businesses and the city.”
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