CHDM GIVES DEADLINE TO HAWKERS
CHDM tells hawkers to make other plans
HAWKERS selling meat and corn in the Komani CBD have been given seven days to vacate the area where they are working or to find alternative options to prepare their food.
This stern warning came from Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) officials who went on another public health campaign in the town last Thursday.
The Rep reported (“CHDM seizes meat in CBD”, March 17) that raw meat prepared and sold on the streets of Komani was confiscated from hawkers by inspectors who indicated that the necessary hygiene was not being applied in terms of storing and preparing the meat.
This week, the inspectors spoke to hawkers who were making fires in town to prepare their meat. An official, who did not want to be named, said people who made fires to prepare food for sale, were on the increase in Komani.
“People cannot just come to town and start making fires. We are asking them nicely to extinguish their fires and we will come back in seven days’ time to check on what they have done. Some of these small businesses are next to petrol pumps at garages and it is dangerous to have a fire in those areas, even if it is small fire.”
He said the municipality would take “further action” against hawkers who chose not to comply, but would not elaborate on what the action would be.
A hawker, who identified himself only as “Sasa”, said selling lamb livers was his only livelihood.
“I have been working in this area for some time. I can move to another place if they want me to stop working next to the garage, but I know someone will come and occupy this spot if I leave.”
Hawker Nosibulelo Dyantyi said the CHDM officials needed to assist them to find better ways of continuing with their businesses.
“We are not fighting against the laws of the government, but they will never confiscate my food. This is my business.”
She said the hawkers made fires in a braai stand and used gas stoves to prepare food.
“How do they think I will sell my corn? My customers want it cooked. I have been working from this area for three years and no one has ever told me anything about the fire being a danger.”
The mother of six said her family would suffer if she had to move.
“Besides my own children, I also support two of my sisters’ children and my husband is unemployed, so I have no other means to create an income. The municipality must come up with solutions. They must stop looking down on hawkers because they think they are educated and have fancy jobs in their offices.”
CHDM spokesman Thobeka Mqamelo said the district authority was doing routine inspections of food premises as required by law.
“One of the awareness campaigns identified dangerous practices such as the widespread making of fires in public places by hawkers.”
She said this posed a danger to the environment, especially during windy periods.
“While the district supports all business initiatives, including those undertaken by emerging businesses, we encourage that all practices should be conducted within the parameters of the law.”