Hawkers wait for BCM vending stalls
After more than two months since workers completed erecting nine hawker stalls in Berlin late last year, the stalls remain unused while hawkers continue trading without adequate shelter.
Buffalo City Metro rolled out a three-year tender valued at R24m awarded to LTK Trading owned by Mdantsane businessman Zuko Matyeshane which would see more than 28 stalls rehabilitated in Bhisho, 15 erected in Berlin and a few others in front of Cecilia Makiwane Hospital.
Yesterday the Daily Dispatch visited the Berlin stalls, six of which were closed and three which appeared to be open, but were unattended, while another was surrounded by taxi drivers who use the area where the stalls are placed as their taxi rank.
Nonzukiso Dyubele, who has been selling fruits and vegetables in Berlin for more than 15 years, said they are eager to use the new stalls.
“We have been so excited watching the stalls go up, and it was coming along nicely.
“But work just suddenly stopped in October, and we only saw people working on the stalls again over the weekend.
“When they were here this weekend I told them the nine stalls they had completed were too small for me and my stock, but they assured me there are 3m stalls they are still to put up, which gave me hope,” she said.
Vuyekwa Twana, a Tupper- ware representative, said the current stalls were just perfect for her business.
“It's been a while and I've been tempted to get into them already because it can get very hot out here on the pavement and that's not good for my dishes and containers, but I have been waiting for the goahead. I'm not sure who the municipality will allow in the stalls or not, but we need to see them being put to good use,” she said.
Victoria July, another fruit and vegetable hawker, said although she was excited about the stalls, she didn't like the idea of them being situated in one spot. “I want my stand to be here, where I am based now.
“It is more spacious and in full view of my customers, as opposed to there where the stalls are, because nobody can see them behind all the taxis,” she said.
The newly appointed portfolio head for local economic development, Mzwandile Vaaibom, said the Berlin stalls would be handed over by the end of the month.
“After my appointment in the new role late last year, I was informed of the Berlin stalls and how they were near completion and that talks were around a suitable date for an official handover, which will take place before the end of January,” he said.
BCM business development manager Xolelwa Majiza said the Berlin handover would be followed soon after by a handover in Bhisho.
“Berlin’s stalls will be completed by month’s end. Three are still outstanding while others still need installation of roller doors. Bhisho is also almost complete with minor touch-ups still needed, but in Mdantsane, near Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, we still need to establish how many hawkers there are in the area,” she said.