Tshwane Municipal held a community gathering on the 6th of April at the Hammanskraal Community Centre, Tshwane Region 2 to issue permits to informal traders. Some of the informal traders received their permits while others were denied the permits.
Most of those denied permits are hawkers who operate on pavements.
This follows the announcement by Co-operative Government Minister- Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma, urging all informal traders to collect their trading permits from their municipalities in order to operate during the lockdown period.
Mr Keletso Phala, an informal poultry trader was happy to have received her certificate.
“While I am happy to have received the certificate, I feel pity for our fellow traders who could not be certified to trade during the lockdown.
“Our fellow business people were denied permits just because they trade on the streets. Officials said the reason for denying permits was because they were instructed to hand over permits to businesses that are operating within their yards,’’ said Mr Phala.
Chairperson of the Informal Traders, Mr Thabo Tshesane said, ‘‘The situation here is not convincing, apparently street-based hawkers are being denied permits and they are instructed to make arrangements with their ward councilors, some Ward councilors are trying to help even though the municipality is not operating at its highest peak, following the fact that it was placed under administration.’’ Mr Tshesane said.
One of the street-based informal traders, who was denied a trading permit, Ms Francinah Kiliko said she was disappointment with officials from the municipal.
She said she is confused as to why the municipal is denying street hawkers because Minister Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma announced that all informal traders are going to collect their permits at their municipalities- Ms iliko said.
Officials from the Municipality were not available for comment at the time of publishing.
This is a developing story.
