As South Africans prepare to head to the polls for the local government elections on 4 November, small businesses and informal traders at Mabopane Station are hoping for improved infrastructure and better working conditions.
Traders say poorly maintained trading spaces and dirty surroundings are creating challenges for businesses, affecting daily operations and customer experience.
Traders say they have been complaining about poor trading spaces and infrastructure for years but have received little help from the municipality. Some traders have lost hope because, even when they vote, they have not seen any change.
One of the traders, Sibusiso Mthoa, said traders are willing to vote in the upcoming elections but want to see improvement in their working conditions.
“We really need to see the change. It’s been over five years, and this place is still like this. We do not have proper shelters for our businesses, meaning when it is raining or too cold, we do not work. Where we are working is also dirty, but the municipality does not do anything about it. That means we are voting for nothing,” Mthoa said.
The traders say the lack of suitable facilities also affects their ability to attract and retain customers. When it rains, or the weather becomes extremely hot or cold, some traders are forced to reduce their trading hours or stop operating altogether. They say this results in lost income, while the dirty surroundings and lack of proper facilities can make customers less comfortable when visiting the trading area.
Informal businesses provide income for many people, but without suitable trading spaces, basic services and proper infrastructure, traders say it becomes difficult to grow their businesses.
According to Councillor Sarah Mabotsa, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Economic Development and Spatial Planning in the City of Tshwane acknowledged that traders face challenges.
“The informal traders in Mabopane Station face several challenges, including limited formalised trading spaces. As most land parcels in the precinct are owned by private parties, the lack of city-owned land makes it difficult for the City of Tshwane to provide spaces and support for traders. To address this, the city is currently developing a plan in partnership with the private sector to develop trading facilities for informal traders in the Mabopane Station precinct,” said Mabotsa.
