DURBAN - INFORMAL traders have welcomed eThekwini Municipality’s announcement of relief measures aimed at boosting the local economy.
The city’s Executive Committee (Exco), at a meeting on Tuesday, tabled a wide range of measures to assist businesses affected by the violent riots and looting that paralysed economic activities two weeks ago.
The Exco announced a three-year monthly rental discount for African traders at eThekwini’s Fresh Produce Markets, and a rates holiday for all affected businesses.
Municipality spokesperson Mluleki Mtungwa confirmed that businesses trading on municipal property would also receive rent holidays. He said more details would be announced after a full council debated the Exco’s proposed measures on Thursday. He said all reports tabled and adopted by the Exco would go before the Full Council for endorsement before implementation.
Welcoming the relief measures, the Fresh Produce Market Users Committee general secretary Verushka Memdutt said they appreciated and welcomed the efforts announced by the municipality to implement policies that liberated people economically. She said the move was a clear effort to bridge inequalities and place traders and current African traders in a stronger economic position.
“We know well that economic power in this country does not benefit citizens equally, hence this is positive,” said Memdutt.
One of the traders, Themba Mkhize, also welcomed the measures but urged the municipality to write off rental debts accumulated when the country was under level 5 of the lockdown last year. He said the municipality charged traders rent for months when the country was under level 5 of the lockdown, when most businesses were closed.
Mkhize also called on the municipality to address the issue of informal traders outside The Workshop shopping centre, who were affected by the 2018 unrest, when a group of protesters had targeted stalls owned by foreign nationals.
He said traders were told to stop paying their rent until the matter was resolved but the municipality was now threatening to evict traders who owed rent.
Last week, the Daily News reported that traders had been given an ultimatum to settle their hefty rent bills or face legal action. Some of them owed as much as R34 000 in rental arrears.
On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa in his address to the nation also announced relief and economic recovery measures for businesses that were affected by the recent unrest. The president said companies that did not have insurance would also be assisted financially to rebuild their businesses.
While the municipality brought smiles to business owners, it was not the same for People Mover bus commuters as its fare increased by 50c. The city announced the fare would increase from R5.50 to R6 from September 1.
Daily News