Municipality to relocate informal traders
2010-06-17
LAST week, the Drakenstein mayoral committee decided that informal traders in Paarl and Wellington will be relocated to demarcated sites, where they will pay fees. “We were tolerant over the last years, but we have to make a decision on the future of the informal traders in Drakenstein,” said Charmaine Manuel, Mayor of Drakenstein. “It is necessary to move them and strict law enforcement will be implemented from then onwards.” Some informal traders in Lady Grey Street, that qualify for informal trading permits, will be relocated to Patriot Square where they will be accommodated in permanent trading kiosks funded by the Municipality. “We have to use all our power and energy to clean out the CBD. Other towns have done it and we also have to do it.” Added Arthob Petersen, mayoral committee member, “The majority of people in the infomal trading sector are foreigners. We have to relocate them.” Legal traders who cannot be accommodated at Patriot Square will be moved to erf 17457 in Paarl (at the taxi rank next to Shoprite). “Several complaints have been received lately regarding the problems posed by informal traders. International experience has shown that informal trading works best when regulated,” a spokesperson of the municipality said. “Informal trading does not have to be a negative feature in any CBD as long as rules and regulations are adhered to. In some instances, informal trading in fact contributes to the aesthetics of an area and provides an outlet for traders.” “However, for this to be successful, basic principles must apply. Only Drakenstein residents and traders that are dependent for their livelihood on informal trading, will be accommodated on allocated sites. “Traders also must pay to trade from this informal demarcated trading site and strict law enforcement will take place. “Patriot Square, if managed correctly, has the potential to become a very success-ful informal trading market if the principles are applied,” she added. At a meeting with representatives of Anytime Investments 14 (the public/private partnership which has leased the CBD) it was agreed that Patriot Square still be utilised for informal trading. The Paarl CBD, in particular, experiences a huge influx of informal traders over week-ends. This influx by traders causes major problems as they are unregulated and occupy spaces that are not earmarked for informal trading. contributing for the over congestion of trading in Lady Grey Street and should, as a first step be relocated. “It is therefore proposed that a portion of land located on the bank of the Berg River be utilised specifically to accommodate weekend traders (adjacent to the area utilised to drop and pick up farm workers on Friday and Saturdays). “This will create an automatic market for these traders. A process will be initiated to proceed with the demarcation of this site for informal trading. “Another option for relocation of traders is the interchange at Huguenot railway station, which has high pedestrian traffic volumes. It is therefore recommended that Council enters into negotiations with Transnet to explore the opportunity of leasing a portion of land near the station.” Following complaints from Wellington residents, especially about traders in front of Victoria Park in Church Street, two sites have been demarcated in Wellington where informal trading sites are available. They are the parking area behind Shoprite (2-4 trading bays), and adjacent to the taxi rank behind Pick n Pay (53 trading bays). Informal traders that are trading illegally will be given the option to move to either of these two demarcated sites. Thereafter, the by-law that each trader needs to be in possession of a permit will be strictly enforced. Permits are issued in the names of the applicants and they must trade with legal goods.The plans are to be implemented by the end of July.
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