Informal traders marched to the provincial legislature on Wednesday to hand over a memorandum with their grievances. Photo: Mary-Anne Gontsana
13 July 2016
Today, Western Cape informal traders marched to the office of the Western Cape Premier, demanding better treatment from provincial and national government. They want to be treated the same as other businesses.
Hundreds of traders and supporters joined the march organised by the South African Informal Traders Alliance (SAITA).
SAITA acting president Rosheda Muller said the march was part of a national campaign.
The traders presented a memorandum to Michael Mpofu of the Premier’s office. They set out the tough conditions they had to work under as traders, including a lack of safety and security, a lack of infrastructure and a lack of ablution facilities.
The memorandum called for skills development, access to finance and security of tenure.
Nomalady Lunamfu, a Gugulethu single mother, who has been trading at the Grand Parade for 15 years. “We have never seen the Premier come to us to listen to our grievances. We don’t make a lot of money, but the City Council still wants us to pay things like water.
“We don’t necessarily mind paying, but they must come here and speak to us and find out what sort of problems we have.
“I sell clothing and sometimes my items are stolen by thieves. We pay R500 a month to keep our things in the storeroom and I pay R120 for the bay I trade in.”
SAITA member and Philippi informal trader Portia Mxaku said the aim of the march was to get protection as informal traders. “We want government to recognise the sector and assist us with our needs. We want security,” she said.
Mxaku has been a trader for 12 years and sells clothes, food and bags. She said traders faced a crime threat; sometimes they had to sleep at their bays to watch over their stock to prevent theft.
The traders carried placards reading: ‘We are sick and tired of empty promises, no more’ and ‘Informal economy 1 sector, 1 voice’.