Springs traders hit hard by Listeriosis outbreak
Customers stay away from processed meat after Listeriosis outbreak.
The outbreak of Listeriosis and the subsequent ban of certain processed meats made by Rainbow, Enterprise and other manufacturers have had a negative impact on the business of informal traders in Springs.
Most traders sell quick, easy snacks and meals that are often accompanied with polony, russians and viennas.
Also read: 22 Cases of listeriosis confirmed in Ekurhuleni
After national Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi issued a warning to South African about the source of the outbreak, many traders have seen a significant decrease in sales.
Dikeledi Mashabela, who is based at the Springs Taxi Rank and sells vetkoeks among other things says, “I used to buy 2kg of polony every day and it used to be finished at the end of that day.
“I have now decreased that to 1kg, and even that does not finish in one day.
“People are scared to buy.
“I’m very worried. How will I take my children to school?”
Also read: Has the threat of Listeriosis put Springsites off processed meat?
Other vendors have similar complaints and worry about the long-term affects of the ban on their business.
Elsie Shaku says government is not being fair.
“Business is slow and people are not buying from us.
“They should lower the price of other meats to make up for the loss.
“People don’t want to eat vetkoeks by themselves.”
Most informal traders have resorted to selling more snacks and more fish to make up for the shortfall, but most are finding it difficult to make ends meet as these products cost more than polony and russians.
Thandi Shabangu has seen an increase in the sales of her other items but is mindful of the competition around as her fellow traders have also started selling similar snacks.
“If this continues, I really don’t know what will happen.
“People don’t trust us anymore, even after we show them that the polony we use is not from Rainbow or Enterprise.”
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