Future of Island View street shop hangs in the balance

LOCAL street vendors are among the many people who are informal traders in the country. Countless families depend on the profits and earning made from sales of these vendors, but where does one draw the line?

This question comes after the recent placement of a one room shack that serves as a fast food shop to the locals and taxi drivers in the area, directly opposite the oil tank storage on Island View Road on the Bluff.

Speaking to the Sun, was one of the newly employed workers at the shop, Ntombi Jali who said that she has not experienced any issues nor is she concerned about her safety. “I cook a variety of hearty meals such as beef and chicken curry, meat, rice, phuthu, salads as well as sandwiches. Coffee and tea is also available,” said Ntombi, whose business day starts from as early as 6am. The little shop situated right on the edge of the road, houses several cooking utensils, ingredients takeaway boxes and a gas stove on which she prepared the meals during the day to sell to her customers. There is no fire extinguisher or running water within the shop.

Ivor Aylward who serves as the chairman for the Bluff Ratepayers Committee stressed that the shop poses a major safety concern. “It endangers the traffic, the public and even themselves. They are working with gas and if one of the many trucks that drive on that road were to take them out, there would a serious accident. I sympathise with people who are trying to make a living but it is important that we still abide by the law,” he said.

Ntombi, presented a traders permit issued by the eThekwini Municipality under Nomusa Ntuli, her boss, for the shop to operate in the vicinity of Island View taxi rank. Nomusa said that she was made aware that some residents, as well as the ward councillor, were unhappy about the placement of her new establishment as well as it being a fire hazard. “I’m aware of the public’s concerns and as a new businesswoman, I am only trying to make a means to survive. I am in the process of trying to get a caravan that will serve as a mobile kitchen and placed in a safer area that will accommodate everyone,” she said.

Ward 66 Cllr JP Prinsloo said that a city official within the Business Licensing Department granted a trading permit to Nomusa to trade along Island View Road.  “As part of the city’s trading by-law ward, councillors are required to grant approval before any permit is issued to any trader. This was not done and a trading licence was issued without my consent. After requesting the city to remove the structure I have received confirmation that the structure was to be removed by Thursday, 27 June 2019.”