Hawkers an emotional issue
2010-06-24
Lise Beyers
EMOTIONS are running high in the Paarl CBD, after the Drakenstein Municipality announced recently that it has plans in the very near future to relocate the hawkers in Lady Grey Street. The plan which has been approved by the Mayoral Committee, will see the relocation of hawkers to Patriot Square, the Shoprite taxi rank, a portion of the Berg River embankment and possibly Huguenot Station. This all falls under the umbrella of the public/private partnership between the Drakenstein Municipal Council and Anytime Investments, whereby the CBD will be cleaned up and upgraded. But this may be easier said than done, as hawkers who were interviewed by Paarl Post are generally up in arms about this move. “I have regular customers who pass by my stall every day and make a purchase. They are not going to go out of their way to walk to Patriot Square,” said Waseem Nackerdien at his food-stall outside Checkers. Maria Ben, a fruit and vegetable trader opposite Checkers is just as despondent about the Drakenstein Municipality’s decision. “This is going to badly affect our income, as here where we are now is where our buying power is. “How are we going to be able to keep our heads above water off Lady Grey Street, and then on top of it have to pay for our permits?” A shoe shop owner in the vicinity who wished to remain anonymous, however welcomes this move. According to him, his windows have been broken on several occasions. “The hawkers vandalise our shops and keep our customers away. More and more people are becoming irate about them and just don’t want to come to town any more, taking their business elsewhere. “The hawkers leave rubbish lying around when they pack up. I really hope that they will be moved.” But an employee of a cellular phone shop, Nadia Adams, praised the hawkers outside the shop, saying that they are like her own private security guards. A passer-by, Willem Vermeulen however, has no time for the hawkers. “Lady Grey Street once used to be clean and safe, but just look at it now,” he points out. “Sadly the damage has been done and there is no way that the Municipality will be able to clean it up again.” Local Rastafarian, Ras Poison, himself does not mind moving, because he says that he has a unique leatherwork business, and his clients will follow him wherever he goes. “But all the other hawkers are my compatriots and I feel for them. Together I will fight for them to protect their right of free trade. “The people who make these decisions receive a fat salary every month and they do not know what it feels like to have to battle to earn one’s bread daily. We are going to fight this, no matter what.” Omar Diouff and Ndiaye Bada, both immigrants from Senegal, are together in the predicament. They came to South Africa looking for a better future, were naturalised, but battle daily to make ends meet as hawkers. “We have been trading for 12 years and have families to feed. They cannot move us from here, we will then no longer be able to make a living.” Michael Jacobs, who has been trading here for the past 18 years, agrees. “They must be silly if they think that we are going to leave quietly. Without trade in this street, we will not make a living.” Ganief Dulvie, the chairperson of the Paarl Informal Traders Association, is angry that this association was not consulted by the Municipality about their decision. “We agree 100% that this industry should be regulated and carefully monitored by law-enforcers. I have been involved here for more than 20 years and have on a regular basis discussed this with the Municipality, but these requests have fallen upon deaf ears.” Dulvie says that the number of local traders have declined, making way for immigrants who are not toeing the line. “We are now sitting in a mess which cannot be controlled. If the authorities had put their foot down years ago, things would have changed. But now it is going to be difficult.” In principal Ganief agrees with spreading the hawkers through town, but insists that designated areas must still be kept in Lady Grey Street for trade. Now everyone is waiting with bated breath for D-Day at the end of July, when the Municipality plans this move. And the question on many people’s lips is, will the hawkers go peacefully?
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