The Gauteng Department of Economic Development convened a Consultative Workshop with the leadership and representatives of informal traders in Gauteng on Monday, 22 April 2013. The workshop was convened to discuss the issues affecting the informal sector, including the obstacles to trade, corruption and harassment from law enforcement institutions, fragmentation and measures to foster unity among informal traders as well as economic opportunities for informal traders in Gauteng.
Addressing the delegates attending the workshop, Economic Development MEC Nkosiphendule Kolisile said that the sector’s importance has increased tremendously as a result the restructuring of the South African economy caused by privatisation, outsourcing and retrenchments in the formal economy. “We cannot speak of an inclusive economy that excludes informal traders, who are among the most marginalised workers” he said. Kolisile urged informal traders to unite and warned that fragmentation makes it difficult for the sector to lobby for progressive policies for informal traders.
Informal traders attending the event welcomed the Gauteng Department of Economic Development’s commitment to train 950 informal traders in Gauteng by 2016. The review of the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller’s funding model to make
provision for loans ranging from R2 000 – R10 000 also received an applause from the informal traders who listed the lack of access to micro finance as one of the hurdles to the sector’s growth.
The president of the South African Informal Trading Forum (SAITF) Sam Khasibe applauded the department’s efforts to work with the sector. “This is the first time that we are convened by government to talk about our issues. We have many problems and face many challenges such as lack of access to finance, training and abuse by the police” said Khasibe. “We make an immense contribution towards the fight against poverty and hunger. The government must step up efforts to support us”, he added.
The workshop agreed on a roadmap for the Informal Traders Summit scheduled for June this year.
Enquiries:
Ms Phindile Kunene, Media Liaison Officer Gauteng Department of Economic Development
Tel: 011 085 2538
Cell: 082 494 2409
E-mail: Phindile.kunene@gauteng.gov.za
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