Street traders once again under fire
Last year, the city along with security and SAPS members broke down and removed a number of makeshift structures along Maxwell and Commercial streets in order to curb the city of illegal trading and associated criminal activities
ILLEGAL street traders operating in Empangeni CBD are once again targeted to be forcefully removed.
Last year, the city along with security and SAPS members broke down and removed a number of makeshift structures along Maxwell and Commercial streets in order to curb the city of illegal trading and associated criminal activities.
Soon after, the city prioritised an initiative which would see more areas demarcated for street trading as well as provide business programmes to empower traders.
However, the majority of those operating in Empangeni would not qualify owing to them being ineligible foreigners.
‘Illegal street trading is still a problem and we cannot give permits to those who are not South African citizens,’ said City of uMhlathuze communications manager Mdu Ncalane.
‘There are procedures which need to be followed, especially in cases where food is being sold.
‘Therefore, we will soon have another operation to remove those trading illegally.’
A few new areas have already been demarcated for trading, including the area outside Ngwelezana Hospital, an area in eSikhawini as well as at the Richards Bay taxi rank.
However, the problem of illegal traders continues to persist with no long term solution in sight.
An investigation in 2011 revealed that 56 per cent of traders operated without permits.
The 2012-2017 uMhlathuze Integrated Development Plan stated that out of the 1 616 traders operating in the city, only 710 were doing so legally.
Empangeni had a total of 341 traders with 72 per cent operating without licences.
In the past three years the problem has worsened and despite operations to remove the businesses, many traders remain adamant that they will always return.
Speaking to the ZO, a Nigerian hairdresser operating in Empangeni said there was no other way of making an income.
He said that since he established his business five years ago, the number of other informal businesses on just one street has almost tripled.
‘There is a lot of competition and here we all rely on our skills to survive.
‘Many of us have to send money home to our families and this is an honest living.
‘We do not bother anyone and none of us here have permits.
‘We cannot afford to rent out spaces, but we need to survive.’
