17 July 2007
Local business has come out in full support of a decision by the Ekurhuleni metro to regulate informal trading in the region.
Attie Kolver, president of the Ekurhuleni Business Association (EBA), has welcomed the metro's Informal and Street Trading Policy and Management framework.
For years informal trading has been a thorny issue, often sparking calls from formal business for some form of monitoring, so that the two sectors of the economy can co-exist.
The metro recently held a workshop in Germiston where the economic development department encouraged the participation of formal and informal business in the drafting of a policy document, which is aimed at providing guidelines that are acceptable to both sectors of the economy.
The policy aims, among others, to address the threats to public safety and health.
The metro recognises positive contributions made by both sectors and is committed to assisting, by building facilities from where hawkers and street traders can operate and to provide these entrepreneurs with some business skills development, training and mentoring.
"The metro is facilitating the organising of informal trading in the region and will continue to encourage the development of micro businesses and the creation of jobs," says executive director for economic development, Ursula Ntsubane.
The department embarked on a programme culminating in among others, the launch of the long-awaited Nigel Trading Market in November last year.
She says the draft policy included the identification of trading sites, proper management of existing markets, registration and allocation of permits and the enforcement of by-laws governing trade and tariffs for traders operating from formal sites.
Business has also committed itself to linking their informal counterparts to opportunities to grow their small initiatives.
“A lasting partnership between the metro and participants in the first and second economy, will benefit all the parties,” says Ntsubane.
The process started a few months ago, when the economic development department reviewed shortcomings in their previous interventions.
A study tour was undertaken of operations at other municipalities and discussions were held with traders, business, portfolio heads and councillors.
Ntsubane says there was consensus that a street trading policy was needed in conjunction with these interventions.
After the workshop, informal traders said they were pleased that the metro had not taken the eviction route, but had decided to include them in the planning process.
Said one informal trader, Nomsa Hlekani: "It shows that we are being respected for trying to earn an honest living".
Source: ekurhuleni.com
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