Evicted hawkers run riot
Tyres burn as BCM takes action
MORE than 100 hawkers trading in front of Shoprite in Sandile Road, Mdantsane, took to the streets yesterday burning tyres and protesting against being evicted.
More than 15 businesses in the vicinity were forced to close shop as a result of the early morning protest.
The hawkers have been fighting eviction from the area for weeks after Ahmed Limbada, who owns the building leased to Shoprite at Sandile Road at the Highway, was granted a court order instructing Buffalo City Metro (BCM) to evict the hawkers.
The angry hawkers said they had been trying to reason with municipal bosses to no avail.
The protesters told the Daily Dispatch they were willing to be relocated to another area, but felt they were not given enough time before being removed.
Speaking on behalf of the hawkers, Simon Ngxeke said: “We were served with a court order on Friday and already on Sunday two shacks were removed by the law enforcement officers”.
The East London High Court ordered on November 8 that BCM should remove the hawkers and informal structures erected on the pavement and street of the property owned by Limbada.
Hawker Winnifred Falasi said they had lost a lot of money – but the action was necessary.
“We have held meetings with the speaker of the council [Alfred Mtsi], [acting] city manager Nceba Ncunyana and they did not give us satisfactory answers,” Falasi said.
Owner and pharmacist Mninawa Daweti said: “The protest has really affected us but we are just hoping it won’t go on for long”. When the Dispatch arrived at the scene yesterday, the protesters were throwing tyres onto a fire. More than three police vehicles and one fire engine truck were on the scene.
Police spokesman Captain Nkosikho Mzuku said no arrests were made. Limbada, who is a doctor in King William’s Town, could not be reached for comment as a receptionist said he was on holiday in Mecca.
BCM spokesman Sibusiso Cindi could not be reached for comment at the time of writing. —