Women in the informal business sector were celebrated and acknowledged for their outstanding contribution to the economy by the metro council on Friday.
The celebratory gathering was the first of many Women’s Month festivities that the city plans to roll out throughout the month of August.
Lillian Morena 61, of Soshanguve, is one of the thousands of female informal traders who wake up every day at around 4am and desperately tries to make a living from selling fruits and vegetables along Bloed Street in the CBD.
Life for her, as for many other female informal traders, has not been a bed of roses. Most of these women are breadwinners in their households.
The informal traders are in a constant battle with metro cops over their illegal stalls and also have to fight off thieves who regularly take their stock.
“We face a lot of hardship on the streets as informal female traders. Most of us are bread winners in our families. We try to make an honest living by selling food, veggies and other products. We are not hurting or stealing from anyone, we are just making a living so we can put our kids through school,” said Morena.
But their efforts did not go unnoticed on Friday when the City of Tshwane hosted a celebratory gathering to acknowledge them, particularly during Women’s Month.
The gathering, which was hosted at the metro police headquarters, saw more than 100 informal traders swop their daily aprons and work attire for dazzling traditional garments.
The hall was abuzz with traditional and dancing
.
Representative for women in informal traders, Mary Ngema, said people often looked down on informal traders and regarded them as inferior.
“We are honoured that the city is acknowledging and celebrating with us. Barekisi ba Tshwane this Women's Month,” said Ngema.
Susan Maluleka 43, shared her story on how she spent a night in a holding cell because of her illegal stall.
“I still remember how my children cried when they came to fetch me from the police station. I got arrested for trying to make an honest living so I can put my kids through school,” said Maluleka.
Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said the greatest challenge facing street and informal traders was a shortage of sites to operate from and rights to trading space.
Pretoria News Weekend