High court orders KSD to return hawker caravans

THE Mthatha High Court has ordered King Sabata Dalindyebo to return hundreds of caravans confiscated from hawkers to their rightful owners.

The caravans were impounded by authorities last month as part of municipal efforts to free congested pavements and streets in the Mthatha CBD.

The action sparked protests by hawkers who use them to run catering businesses, culminating in a violent clash between hawkers and municipal police.

Municipal bosses have on several occasions insisted that their actions were because the caravans, which have been stationed on the town’s pavements for several years, were in violation of the Traffic Act and had been placed illegally in the city by the hawkers.

African Hawkers Association president Fundile Jalile told reporters they had been granted an interim relief order by the Mthatha High Court last week, which effectively compelled municipal bosses to return the caravans.

Jalile said the municipality had failed to provide the court with a council resolution or a court order granting them permission to remove the caravans.

Hhe said their lawyers would recommend a course of action to be taken once they have been able to evaluate the extent of the damage caused to the caravans.

KSD municipal spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza was unable to comment on the matter yesterday.

Questions were sent to the municipality’s acting spokesman, Zibele Limani, who had not responded at the time of writing. —