POLOKWANE – Informal traders in the Polokwane Central Business District (CBD) are appreciative of the advice given to them by the recently appointed MEC for Economic Development, Environment, and Tourism (LEDET), Rodgers Monama, so that they refrain from a living from hand-to-mouth approach.
In a statement dated October 13, Monama said some informal traders could generate as much as R1 600 a day which roughly makes up to R33 600 a month.
Even so, their depth of income is not clear as most do not save or bank their money, he said.
“An informal trader selling spinach, vegetables or fruit at R10 to 50 customers for 21 days a month will take home R10 500 a month before deductions such as buying new stock,” he added.
Even in their positive responses to the guidance, an anonymous trader whose business is situated near the CBD taxi rank says it is not easy to save money that comes “in little bits”.
She sells mealie pap, salad and meat for R40 per serving, roughly making R400 a day because her business is similar to the numerous others, prompting tight competition and little income.
“From the money, I must add stock, manage transport money and still manage my home matters with it. In the end, I save about R30, which I cannot take to the bank,” she says.
Expressing a high level of support, Monama said job creation, reconstruction of the local economy, and industrialisation all emanate from supporting and remaining loyal to informal traders so that their businesses can expand into even better trading companies.
He applauded them for their affluence in attracting regular and loyal customers with their economically sound pricing of products.
“Limpopo citizens should continue supporting informal traders as most of them acquires their fresh produce as well as many of their products from locally based farmers and wholesalers,” he said.
