Small businesses affected by big retailers
Local business urge government to regulate foreign owned businesses.
The chairperson of the Doornkop Business Forum, Sibusiso Mhlongo said during a march held in Thulani, Soweto, that local small businesses are negatively affected by foreign owned retailers who have ‘crowded’ the community.
Tuck shops, hawkers, Sanco members, ANC and EFF joined the march.
The purpose of the march was to submit a memorandum to the Department of Economic Development and the City.
Mhlongo said it was about time that business people in Doornkop act on this matter.
“The forum doesn’t have a problem with foreigners running businesses in the area, but we believe government should regulate how all this happens.
He said: “Almost every street has a foreigner’s shop and the number continues to rise – this is not healthy to our businesses.
Residents’ demands as outlined in the memo are;
- Access to land (rezoning of land for business development).
- Funding and entrepreneurship development (informal trading and small enterprises).
- The protection of township economy to avoid invasion of small businesses by big retailers.
- Government consultation to communities on time to prevent impediments in the business sector.
Mhlongo said: “We’ve given them two weeks’ notice to attend to our issues because all the demands made by the forum are essential.
“Members of the forum would always raise concerns on how the sudden invasion by big retailers has impacted their business and impedes them from progression,” he said.
The memorandum was handed over to the relevant officials at the police station following the march that took nearly four hours.
