‘Street malls’ unhygenic and an eyesore
MBOMBELA - “Street malls” on the sidewalks around each and every corner of the city have become an all too common sight.
Everything from vegetables, food, sweets and cooldrink to clothes and jewellery can be bought from these vendors. There is even a “hair salon mall” in Citrus Street.
Of great concern, however, for several businesses in and around Timmerhout
Street in the industrial area is that the "street malls'' are not only an eyesore, but are also extremely unhygienic.
Hordes of people were lining up to buy meat from the trader who runs the business from a roofless shelter
One owner, who does not want to be named, said a butchery “opened” its doors a few weeks ago. Raw meat carcases are being processed and cut into smaller portions and then sold to the public.
During an investigation by Lowvelder last week, hordes of people were lining up to buy meat from the trader, who runs the business from a roofless shelter with a few wooden tables, buckets full of meat, no water and thousands of flies circling around.
Next to the structure is a small wooden shack, possibly used as a toilet facility.
A former health inspector, who had been employed by the Ehlanzeni District
Municipality (EOM), said it is a constant crisis that neither they, nor the City of Mbombela (CoM) could control.
The business licence officer of CoM should issue such business licences to among other street hawkers.
“It, however, seems that no one can either control or act against illegal street vendors such as these butcheries and food stalls,” the source said.
One of the confusing aspects of the issuing of licences is that they are issued by CoM, but the health inspectors who must ensure the conditions are met are EDM's.
Neither Lucky Ngomane, head of communications of EDM, nor Joseph Ngala, the spokesperson for CoM, responded to questions at the time of going to press.