Street vendors trading next to Chiawelo train station are adamant that nothing will stop them from doing business in the area.
This came after Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) announced that all street hawkers who are not following the city’s by-laws will be removed from their stalls and fined and have their stock confiscated.
One of the traders Miriam Mukasi said: “If I’m removed here and my stock get confiscated, how will I survive then, how will I buy food for my family and make sure that my children’s school fees is paid up.
“I think the city is unfair on us, some areas have designed areas for street walkers, so why can’t they build one for us here in Chiawelo.”
Another street hawker Thomas Mhlongo said: “If the city said we must stop running business here they must provide us with alternative area to do so.
“Because what they are planning to do is unfair at all, they will just be increasing high number of unemployment.”
JMPD spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said: “We are targeting people who are breaking the city’s By-laws and there is no way we can be lenient or feel petty for them because they have been warned before.
“Most of the street hawkers have been trained and taught the by-Laws and I think those who are on the wrong side of the law are the ones who don’t attend our meetings.”
