Thousands of Mthatha hawkers marched on the economic development department and King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, demanding the local authority build proper trading stalls in the CBD.
They also want the municipality to allow them to trade on York Road and Sutherland Street like other small businesses and to build toilets close to where the new stalls will be built.
Sutherland Street is one of the busiest streets in Mthatha as it forms part of the R61 to Ngcobo and Port St Johns.
The hawkers accused government of prioritising small businesses owned by white people and foreign nationals when it came to providing support and development.
African Hawkers’ Association president Fundile Jalile said: “We are starving more now that black people are in charge. We are slaves and government looks down on us. We want to be recognised so that our children will not die poor as we are.
“Government must recognise and build markets so that these people can be housed there.”
He added that the Botha Sigcau Building was “empty” but authorities deemed it too good for hawkers to trade from it.
Jalile said they had to interdict the municipality in June last year from removing shipping containers being used as eateries and hair salons in some parts of the CBD.
“If government does not want containers in those streets, then it must build us a place to trade from.”
Manufacturers’ Association chairman Wellington Mbalo said the current government had neglected factories built by former bantustan leaders which used to provide jobs for residents.
“We are tired of apartheid laws that say we must go and trade next to rivers. We are tired of being ill-treated in our own town.
“Government closed down factories that were opened by tata Matanzima that were assisting us. Instead of assisting us, they are sabotaging us,” said Mbalo.
Hawker, Lindiwe Mlonzi said law enforcement officers treated hawkers in an inhumane manner when raiding their stalls.
“The way that municipal law enforcement officers treat us when they raid our stands, you would swear we are criminals,” she said.
The hawkers promised to bring Mthatha to a standstill on July 13 when they march again.
OR Tambo district economic development administrator, Sandile Gwayi received the petition and promised that it would be sent to MEC Sakhumzi Somyo before the end of the week. — ndamasem@dispatch.co.za
Mthatha hawkers demand fair treatment from government
They also want the municipality to allow them to trade on York Road and Sutherland Street like other small businesses and to build toilets close to where the new stalls will be built.
Sutherland Street is one of the busiest streets in Mthatha as it forms part of the R61 to Ngcobo and Port St Johns.
The hawkers accused government of prioritising small businesses owned by white people and foreign nationals when it came to providing support and development.
African Hawkers’ Association president Fundile Jalile said: “We are starving more now that black people are in charge. We are slaves and government looks down on us. We want to be recognised so that our children will not die poor as we are.
“Government must recognise and build markets so that these people can be housed there.”
He added that the Botha Sigcau Building was “empty” but authorities deemed it too good for hawkers to trade from it.
Jalile said they had to interdict the municipality in June last year from removing shipping containers being used as eateries and hair salons in some parts of the CBD.
“If government does not want containers in those streets, then it must build us a place to trade from.”
Manufacturers’ Association chairman Wellington Mbalo said the current government had neglected factories built by former bantustan leaders which used to provide jobs for residents.
“We are tired of apartheid laws that say we must go and trade next to rivers. We are tired of being ill-treated in our own town.
“Government closed down factories that were opened by tata Matanzima that were assisting us. Instead of assisting us, they are sabotaging us,” said Mbalo.
Hawker, Lindiwe Mlonzi said law enforcement officers treated hawkers in an inhumane manner when raiding their stalls.
“The way that municipal law enforcement officers treat us when they raid our stands, you would swear we are criminals,” she said.
The hawkers promised to bring Mthatha to a standstill on July 13 when they march again.
OR Tambo district economic development administrator, Sandile Gwayi received the petition and promised that it would be sent to MEC Sakhumzi Somyo before the end of the week. — ndamasem@dispatch.co.za
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