Not-so Friendly City for small players
FRENCH critic, journalist and novelist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr (1808-1890) is credited for having said: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”
On September 22, The Herald published a supplement entitled, “Our Heritage”. Therein, on page 6, a list of “firsts” for the Friendly City were listed as a source of achievement and pride.
One “first” in particular drew my interest: In 1986 the central business district was opened to all races. This statement read on its own gives the impression that from 1986 onwards we have always had a level playing field where all races compete on an equal footing. This is far from the truth.
The Weekend Post reported that the merchandise of informal traders in Walmer was confiscated by the municipal police and rangers. In a brazen abuse of the rule of law, the black traders have been hounded out in Walmer without being given an alternative place to sell their wares. One of the informal traders was quoted as
having said, “When we go to the municipality to get permits we are sent from pillar to post.” The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Professor Es’kia Mphahlele (1919-2008), an award-winning literary icon, described in his first autobiography, Down Second Avenue, how his mother, who was an informal trader, used to be mercilessly harassed by the law enforcers in then Sophiatown. If he was alive today, he would be shocked to learn that these abhorrent practices still exist in a country that has a bill of rights and a widely celebrated constitution.
Another flaw of the statement professing that the CBD was opened to all races is the total disregard of the political
turmoil of the time. The mid-80s in PE were extremely volatile politically; there was a complete shutdown of schools in the black townships in 1980, 1985 and 1986. On other fronts, the consumer boycott aimed at bringing the National Party government to its knees reached boiling point.
Archbishop Emeritus D M Tutu and associates managed to convince super-powers like the US to impose economic sanctions on South Africa. Work started in 1977 by Rev Leon Sullivan of the US to influence an economic boycott on South Africa gained wide adoption among US-based corporations in the mid-80s.
Sad as it was, this chapter brought many closer to the ideal of universal
franchise and democracy. In its wake it left the economy of the country in tatters, as shown by the table (left) developed by Andre Roux in his book Everyone’s Guide to the South African
Economy (8th Edition). I have omitted some economic indicators because the few listed above sufficiently assist to narrate and highlight the challenges of the 1980s on the economic front.
In conclusion, I think the response by the municipality to the challenge in Walmer was rather regrettable and devoid of any empathy for those who are on the periphery of the economy.
City Hall has every right to keep law and order for anarchy not to prevail, but not at the expense of fair and equitable treatment of all who live in our friendly city. If anything, the informal traders’ saga is a clear indication that the municipality does not have a credible plan in place to bring small players into the mainstream.