MOGALAKWENA CONCERNED AND AFFECTED COMMUNITIES MEETS WITH INFORMAL TRADERS (HAWKERS) OF MOKOPANE TOWN
Rebecca Selomo
Mogalakwena Concerned and Affected Communities (MCAC) met with informal traders in Mokopane Town on Wednesday 24 July 2024 following a meeting of MCAC on 17 July 2024 which resolved to convene all hawkers in town.
During the meeting of MCAC on 17th July, the representatives of informal traders highlighted the following challenges:
- There is a lot of lawlessness in town and that affects their businesses negatively
- Foreign-owned businesses are not regulated and end up taking their businesses
- There are a lot of illegal activities in the street and some foreigner-owned shops
- The authorities treat local informal traders harshly as compared to others who are not sufficiently regulated
The representative of informal traders further indicated that they have attempted to engage with Mogalakwena Local Municipality, but the situation is worsening. Mrs Ngobeni said, “We appeal for MCAC to help us as informal traders because we are losing business and end up unable to support our families at home.”
The meeting on the 24th of July 2024 was attended by informal traders ranging from street fruits and vegetable sellers to food sellers, and hair stylists. The Station Commander and other members of the police station represented the Mokopane Police Station. The informal traders raised their fears and concerns and all the issues they had with the Police Station.
Mogalakwena Concerned and Affected Communities observed that although Mokopane is surrounded by mining opportunities, which present it with economic potential for locals, including the informal traders in town due to the influx of migrant workers, the lack of corporate governance and economic planning by all key role players leads to local traders to suffer instead.
The meeting resolved an activity by all the major stakeholders to clean the streets of Mokopane.
The meeting further resolved a more formal program by all and sundry to look into ways to make Mokopane Town a hub for economic prosperity and lawlessness for all its citizens.
