Financial Sector Campaign Coalition Mpumalanga Province condemns torturing and exploitation of hawkers at Kwaggafontein

4 March 2014

The Financial Sector Campaign Coalition (FSCC) in Mpumalanga and Kwaggafontein Hawkers Association met with Kwaggafontein Shopping Square Formal and Informal Sector at Kwaggafontein. The meeting was attended by approximately 500 people coming from different business sectors who are faced with serious challenges. The meeting was in line with the resolution of the campaign launch which mandated the committee to meet other relevant stakeholders, and further noted challenges which affect the working class on a daily basis and came up with way forward on how to address them.

We condemn in strongest possible terms the treatment by Thembisile Hani Municipality of forcing the hawkers to pay for permits without consultation. The working class remains a motive force of our revolution and needs to benefit from the fruits of democracy. Twenty years into democratic breakthrough we still see some individuals who do not understand the progressive agenda of the ANC-led government.

We are calling on the municipality to suspend permits and open a consultative process with the hawkers as a matter of principle. We dismiss the attempts of milking the working class through unwarranted fines by police and traffic officials, mandated by some individuals who lack understanding on supporting small, micro and medium enterprises and co-operatives.

The continued victimization of hawkers by the South African Police Service cannot be left unattended. We expect the police to work closely with hawkers and protect them rather than be hell-bent on torturing the masses of our people. We shall facilitate a meeting with the municipality, hawkers association, police service and the FSCC.

We shall engage banking institutions to intervene with loans for this sector. We cannot accept the working class to suffer and be denied access as they are told they are business risk and thus cannot get assistance.

Issued by Financial Sector Campaign Coalition, Mpumalanga

Enquiries:

Mandla Tibane - FSCC Chairperson

Mobile: 079 406 2099.

Tinyiko Ntini - Provincial Media Liaison

Mobile: 073 811 2020.