SADC Informal Traders Campaign Update – 07/12/2011

Report by Cecilia Dube (Women Informal Development Forum)

It is our honour to inform you that Women Informal Development Forum (WITF), a structure representing women informal traders will be picketing and making a submission to the Office of the Deputy Minister of Trade & Industry. The picketing and the making of submission form part of the SADC Informal Traders Campaign against Sexual and Economic Violence, which is aimed at raising awareness of the struggles and human rights violations of informal traders within the SADC countries. As women informal traders in South Africa we are using the 16 Days of Activism against the Abuse of Women and Children to raise awareness about our plight as women and make demands to government about our rights and dignity.
The Picketing and making of Submission event is scheduled as follows:
Date: 9th December 2011
Venue: DTI Offices, 77 Meintjies street, Sunnyside, Pretoria
Time: 12pm

Report by Sipho Thwala (SADC Informal Traders Campaign)

Informal Traders in Gauteng rounded off the year on a high note when they elected the Gauteng Informal Development Forum, a provincial structure representing informal traders in the province.
The leadership of the Gauteng Informal Development Forum are:
Mike More- Chairperson
Sam Taraka- Deputy Chairperson
Lule Pretorius- Secretary General
Juleka Latib- Deputy General Secretary
Frans Seema- Co-ordinator
Phumlani Ndlovu- Treasure
Clifford Dube- Administrator
Leon Barclay- Chairman (Investment)
Bonisile Malati- Deputy Chairman (Investment)

Report by Bhevha Hlophe (CIEAS, Swaziland)

The Coalition of Informal Economy Association of Swaziland (CIEAS) is still running in full steam with the activities of the SADC Informal Traders Campaign, aimed at putting an end to sexual and economic violence on informal traders. On the 05th December 2011 (Monday) we held a rally with informal traders in the Hhohho region. The rally focussed on issues and challenges affecting informal traders in Swaziland. So far in the different places where we held our rallies it has become clear that most of the traders across our country struggle with similar challenges though situated in different regions. For example, rally after rally we were told by traders that they lack proper stalls to trade. Those who are cross-borders, especially women traders complained of sexual harassment at borders while over taxation is also another serious concern for most cross border traders. We could not help but notice how the traders appreciated our effort to discuss with them about their experiences and challenges. It is however sad that we could not go to every region and speak to all of them because of financial constraints. Our wish is that before the end of this year we should be able to organize a workshop for traders who are widows. The idea is to ensure that they are empowered to know their rights, especially since some men hide behind culture to exploit them. Therefore we are planning on organizing a workshop and invite some legal experts to come and empower them accordingly.

Report by Riedewaan Charles (Western Cape Informal Traders)

In Western Cape informal traders on the streets and those selling in the demarcated areas at least have not experienced any impounding for a month now and we hope it continues to be like that. However, we are disturbed that traders selling on the metro rail are being harassed left right and centre by the metro rail security, who only explain their action as enforcing the law. The challenge is that when we approach Intersite, we are not allowed to see the managers instead we are told to set an appointment first and lay a complaint at the information desk. Nevertheless, our complaints never get to the manager (s) and we also not afforded opportunity to meet the manager (s) so that we are able to engage her or him about the harassment of rail traders. We have also been busy mobilising and organising the sector in the province. We have noticed that most of the informal traders lack skills, even of running their own organisations. Lack of skills of informal traders in Western Cape have as a result led to the split of 43 informal trader organisations, but we have been successful in mobilising traders to resuscitate 20 organisations. We believe that if we can be able to have proper structures of traders it will be easier to speak with one voice, get funding and challenge government forcefully to take us seriously as the sector. We envision forming a strong inclusive provincial informal trader’s structure by next year February.

SADC Informal Traders Campaign Update

SADC Informal Traders Campaign Update – 21/11/2011

Report by Tsolo Lebitsa (Lesotho)
A committee of informal traders in Lesotho led by a trader association called Khathang Tema Baitsukuli and partnered by Lesotho Council of Churches yesterday (16/11/2011) held a rally with their councillors and the Market Master in Mafeteng. In Lesotho, the Market Master is the one responsible for the allocation of stalls for informal traders at the market place whilst the councillors are strategic for engagements about development and sites allocation. During the rally the councillors agreed with the informal traders that the current market in Mafeteng which was since built in 1969 and can only accommodate 100 traders need to be expanded and refurbished. At the event, the traders committee was also able to distribute questionnaires to more than 50 traders who were in attendance. Amongst others the questionnaire touches on issues of policy and regulation of the informal traders locally as well as treatment of cross-border traders. The rally formed part of the activities undertaken by informal traders during the SADC Informal Traders Campaign to highlight their marginalisation and exclusion from partaking in the economy of their country. The informal traders who attended the rally came from Mafeteng and other neighbouring areas such as Tetenara, Thabaneng, Matholeng, Matseke and Motsekuoa.

Report by Sipho Thwala (Orange Farm, South Africa)
As part of the SADC Informal Traders Campaign, aimed at putting an end to sexual and economic violence on informal traders, the campaign co-ordinating team in South Africa last week visited the traders at Orange Farm Stretford station upon hearing that there will be a march against them. According to the two elderly informal traders who have been trading at the station for years the councillor, landlord of the land at the station as well as other government stakeholders have mobilised the community to march against them. This they believe is an attempt to make them move out from the station and make way for the development of the mall. The two elderly women explained that they feared for their lives because they are the one having an agreement which makes provision for them to continue trading at the station even when the mall is built. The campaign co-ordinating team, ESSET officials and representatives from Orange Farm Fraternal paid traders at the station a visit a day before the march and also wrote a letter to the councillor in the area about the concerns of the traders as well as seeking police protection for traders. The march never materialised and the traders at the station are continuing to trade with no disturbance.

Report by Sipho Thwala (Eldorado Park, South Africa)
Informal traders selling next to Shoprite in Eldorado Park receive a shock of their lifetime over the weekend when unexpectedly, the metro police pounced on them and even shoot bullets in the air before confiscating their goods. The Chairperson of the traders in Eldorado Park, Leon Barclay says: “We have never been harassed by metro police before. Thus, we were all surprised by the harassment incident over the weekend because we never received any complaint for trading illegally nor have they informed us of demarcated spaces for trading. Also surprising is the fact that the metro police only attack coloured traders. But we will not give them a chance again; if they can come and harass us we will fight them back. We are ready for them”.

Report by Mrs Regina Muwowo (Zambia)
The Zambian government is one amongst the very few states within the SADC region which support the informal trade sector. We wish many of states can emulate it by supporting the informal traders. The Copper belt Cross Border Traders (CBTAKT) and Integrated Business Association (IBA) are some of the informal business structures that enjoy the support of the Zambian government. The government has even donated five containers, land and three warehouses to informal traders belonging to the CBTAKT and IBA. Government officials are usually invited to attend workshops and other events hosted by CBTAKT and IBA.

The Zambian Development Agency is an agent in the government that helps the informal sector to develop into well-established entities. The same agency identifies foreign Companies to be linked to local traders so that they can learn new skills. The government promote lower interest charges by the commercial banks and other financial lending institutions to encourage more people in the informal sector to have access to loans and start businesses. The government also has established the Citizen Economical Empowerment Commission which identifies women and youth groups who have viable business proposals or projects to undertake, but have no access to capital. Upon identifying these groups, they are given loans to start-up business. By so doing, employment is created in the informal sector both to the youths and women. Even the disabled benefit from the same programme because they also form part of the informal sector in this area of trade.

Report by Bhevha Hlophe (Swaziland)
The Coalition of informal economy Association of Swaziland held two rallies on the 15th and 17th November with informal traders in Nhlangano and Madlangisi respectively. The rallies focussed on issues and challenges affecting informal traders in Swaziland. The rallies were also used as platform to mobilise local traders and raise awareness about the SADC Informal Traders campaign. The coalition is preparing to hold bigger rally in the first week of December 2011 which will bring informal traders from different regions of Swaziland to come and strategize on how to advance their struggle and engage their authorities.

SADC Traders Campaign, putting the traders issues on the SADC agenda

Despite having attained independence and democracy, many countries in the Southern African Development Communities (SADC) still continue to grapple with social and economic challenges. Poverty, inequality and unemployment are but some of the key challenges being experienced by some countries within the SADC region like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, and Swaziland. According to the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Plan, 70% of the population in the region are living below the international poverty line of US$2 per day. It is also in these countries where many rely on informal trade to earn a living. However, very few states allow informal trading to be part of their cities cadence and bustle.

Informal trade is not only a means to create employment within the SADC region but its also a main source of income for many families. Policy and Advocacy Director at the Trade Collective, Dr Lebohang Pheko says that in SADC informal trade contributes an average of over US$17.6 billion per year. Further, some SADC states continue to acquire revenue from duties and taxes charged to small informal traders who operate across borders, though they do not recognise the sector as being part of the national and regional economies. Informal trade is seen as a sector evading tax and therefore illegal, rather than an alternative for making livelihood.

Majority of those in the informal trade sector are women. Some women turned to street trading to run away from the unbearable conditions that they were being subjected to at home. Unlike their male counter-part, the anguish of women traders goes beyond having to deal only with harsh atrocious working conditions to municipal by-laws and policies that purge them from peddling the corners of the streets. They have to deal with cultural, religious and traditional stereotypes.

It is therefore against this background that as informal traders within the SADC region, we have decided to run a campaign that is aimed at putting an end to their economic and sexual violence. Countries participating in the campaign are South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Some of the challenges we experience includes:

 Absence of decent trading places
 Sexual advances on women traders
 On-going police harassment and stock confiscation
 Theft and bribery from government officials and custom officers at
borders
 Fragmentation that bound within the informal trading sector
 Xenophobic tendencies against foreign nationals
 Informal trader formations misconstrued as opposition parties

Informal Traders in the SADC region demands:

 Stop to economic and sexual violence
 Fair treatment of Informal traders
 Pro-informal traders policies and by-laws
 Respect for the rights of informal traders

We call upon all, including faith communities, social movements and civil society organisations to stand in solidarity with Informal traders in the SADC region as we fight against unjust policies, systems of marginalisation and for our right to trade. You can show solidarity with us in the campaign by endorsing our statements, issuing articles or writing letters to media houses as well as sending us your messages of support.

Organisations who are already partnering the SADC Informal traders campaign are Ecumenical Service for Socio-Economic Transformation, Regional Export Promotion Trust (Zimbabwe), Economic Justice Network (EJN), Lesotho Christian Council, Swaziland Christian Council, Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Khathang Tema Baitsukuli (Lesotho), Coalition of Informal Economy Association of Swaziland, Women Informal Development Forum and Abahlali BaseMjondolo Women’s League.


For more information about the campaign or how you can show your support, contact Sipho Thwala (Campaign Co-ordinator) at ESSET Office Tel No: + 27 833 1190. Alternatively email him at: sipho.qhass@gmail.com or info@esset.org.za. More information will also be on ESSET website: www.esset.org.za

Women traders in Rustenburg take charge of their struggle

Great strides is being made by women informal traders in Rustenburg, North West just few months down the line following with them on their rights and how these are continually undermined. The reflections took place at the Rustenburg Taxi rank, with about 30 women. The platform gave women a space to criticially analyse the rules and regulations of informal trade; their experiences in the existing spaces for participation and engagements with government departments that have been constitutionally entrusted with the responsibility to bring development in the informal trading sector. These reflections also gave women a space to voice out issues affecting their day-to-day work and to devise strategies to ensure that their voice is heard.

A number of disturbing issues emerged from the reflections. We learnt that there is no clear policy on informal trade. The laws that are used to regulate informal trade in the area and the province still reflect the old apartheid rule. The municipality tends to communicate with traders through newspapers and by-law booklets written in English and Afrikaans, which is not reader-friendly to most traders who are illiterate. These by-law booklets or newspapers would have on them information on the the processes that should be followed when goods are being confiscated, but because the traders are not familiar with the language, they will then have to bear the feeling of loosing their goods.

Traders are not involved in policy formulation processes affecting them with no measures made to ensure that they participate. The current by-laws work against informal traders, who are mostly women. Women traders also suffer unfair law-enforcement by municipal police who often fail to follow proper procedures. Women complained that whilst the informal trade sector is dominated by women, most of their leadership committees consist of mainly men, who at times are not even traders themselves. Decisions taken thus fail to consider their views.

Another concern raised by women was that in as much as women traders are aware of the unfair policy processes that exclude them, they preferred to remain silent and focus on the fact that they are able to wake up everyday and work for their families. When questioned about why they did not oppose this unfair practice, they indicated that that this is how things are done there. They linked this to their Batswana culture where women are expected to remain submissive to their men.

In this regard, they expressed their belief that a better solution for a woman or for a woman‘s problem is a man, “Sethlare sa mosadi ke mmona“. This basically means that, whatever the man or (leaders) do either wrong or rightly so, is ok because they were ‘meant‘ for that – to be decision-makers, leaders and heads of the family and society. The women have also extended this belief to other areas of their lives, including race. They alluded to the fact that generally, poorBatswana community believes that a solution for a motswana person or a black-person is a white man. This in essence indicate that there is nothing a motswana person can do without the intervention of a white person.

Listening to these assertions, it was very clear that socialisation and internalised oppression is playing a major role in delaying transformation in the lives of these women. In fact, to us their socialisation is playing a critical role in reinforcing their harrassment and violation of their rights both by government and some of their male counterparts. The kind of oppression witnessed in this province is not peculiar amongst informal traders but is prevalent amongst other people in other provinces as well. Many people as a result continue to be disempowered as those in power take advantage of their vulnerabilities.

However, we were pleasantly surprised at the end of our engagements with women traders in Rustenburg when they indicated that the reflections have opened their eyes and minds. The women also strongly felt that it is in their best interest to raise their own voice in all processes that concern their sector and their lives. They resolved to mobilize themselves as women informal traders in that area. This was going to begin with a meeting they planned to convene as women to start to conscietize each other on their rights and how they can protect and promote those rights.

We visited the group three months later. We learnt that the women did not waste time in putting their resolutions into effect. They started to mobilize themselves with the aim to addresss some of their internal issues such as encouraging unity amongst themselves as traders, liase with the other groups of informal traders in the area. During that time, the local municipality through its law-enforcement agency; metro police, embarked on a clean-up campaign which led to the confiscation of their stock.

This took place without prior consultation with traders. As usual, the women traders expected their leaders who are men to act in their defence. When women observed the reluctance of their male counterparts, they were reminded of the information that was recently shared with them on their rights. They decided to take matters into their own hands using the knowledge they have gained and commitments they have made. They contacted the Lawyers for Human Rights and narrated their ordeal, which the lawyers agreed to help them. They set an appointment andorganised their own transport to meet with the lawyers. There were about 33 women in total who met with the lawyer.

The decision by women traders to consult the lawyers evoked a reaction from the male dominated leadership committee who felt disrespected. This kind of reaction is of cause a matter of concern, and reflects the general resistance to gender transformation in our society. This attitude is prevalent in most spheres of our society where men feel disempowered when women start to take a leadership role. This tendency also tends to contribute to domestic violance .

However, despite this setback, the meeting with the lawyer ended on a positive note with the lawyers agreeing to file a court case against the municipality. On the day of the court case the women traders organised their own transport and went to Mafikeng High Court on their own. One could see the joy and pride in their faces as they told their story. They were proud of the way they have acted upon their plight by themselves. Certainly to them, the ruling of court which worked in their favour was a cherry on top.

The Mafikeng High Court ordered the municipality to stop harrassing the traders and to stop confiscating their stock until the municipality arranged a meeting with the traders‘ lawyers to find a mutual agreement or an out- of court settlement. The court also ruled that the municipality should compensate each trader an amount of R500 for the confiscated stock. If the municipality continues to violate the rights of informal traders, the municipality would have to pay a fine of R50 000. This was clearly a resounding victory for informal traders. 33 women informal traders from Rustenburg stood the test of time by taking a lead in fighting for justice and protecting their rights by challenging the local authorities and forces of power that sought to undermine their rights. The women were happy that they can now trade without fear of being harrassed by the authorities.

Clearly, there is a sign of a real shift of mind-set from the time when we met women traders in Rustenburg. This also verifies that women can really effect change in our society. Even those in power in that area will from now onwards have to think twice when dealing with these women. Some of them have told us that they have also decided to stop believing on the cultural phrase that says: “the solution for women‘s problems is a man“. They said taking a lead in their struggle has been something that they have always longed for and just one initiative has proven that they are capable. They stated that they could not afford to be led by people who seem to care less about what matters most to them as women. Forward with women empowerment!

By: Mandla HK Mndebele
ESSET Programme Assistant

Consultation Meeting of Informal traders in Mankayane (Swaziland)

As part of the SADC Informal Traders Campaign, aimed at putting an end to sexual and economic violence on informal traders, the Coalition of informal economy Association of Swaziland is hosting a Consultation Meeting with Informal traders in Mankayane (Sub-region of Mbabane, Swaziland). The meeting will discuss issues and challenges affecting informal traders in Swaziland and explore strategies on how to deal with it. About 1000 traders are expected to attend, coming from areas such as Mbabane, Nhlangano, Mankayane, and Manzini. Also participating in this campaign is informal traders from other SADC countries such as South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The Ecumenical Service for Socio Economic Transformation (ESSET) is holding a two

day Stakeholder Dialogue on Policy and Legislation of Informal Trade. The dialogue is being

held in Kliptown Hall (Soweto) on 11- 12 October 2011.

Background to the dialogues

ESSET started working with informal traders around the city of Johannesburg in 2006. One of

the ESSET projects under its accompaniment programme is informal trading. In 2006,

we conducted a survey on informal trade, with the aim to have a better perspective of the sector. In 2011, ESSET supported by the Foundation for Human Rights embarked on the project

titled: Strengthening the Voice of Women informal traders in Policy processes.

In carrying out this project, ESSET embarked on a number of activities. One of these is a

research that was aimed at providing information on relevant legislation and policies

and conducted three days workshops in Johannes burg and Rustenburg on advancing the

socio economic rights of women traders. The workshops together with the research resulted

 in an understanding by women traders of their rights; however the issues on policy still

needs further engagement. Thus the upcoming stakeholder dialogue will be used as a

platform for both women and men informal traders and policy makers, law enforces to

engage, to ensure proper representation of women informal traders in policy processes

and the realisation of their rights to participate in the informal economy.

The objectives of the dialogue are :  

·         To engage on the research findings on legislation and policy that has a bearing on

       rights of women traders to trade and its implications to participatory democracy.

·         To deliberate on shared experiences and demands formulated while exploring possible avenues for participation.

·         To explore avenues for participation by women traders and to examine hindrances to participation of women traders in policy processes.

Stakeholder Dialogue schedule details:

Date : 11- 12 October 2011

Venue: Jabulani, Soweto

Time: 10am – 3pm

ESSET host Stakeholder Dialogue on Policy and Legislation of Informal Trade

The Ecumenical Service for Socio Economic Transformation (ESSET) will be holding a two day Stakeholder Dialogue on Policy and Legislation of Informal Trade. The dialogue will be held in Kliptown Hall (Soweto) on 11- 12 October 2011.

Background to the dialogues
ESSET started working with informal traders around the city of Johannesburg in 2006. One of the ESSET projects under its accompaniment programme is informal trading. In 2006, we conducted a survey on informal trade, with the aim to have a better perspective of the sector. In 2011, ESSET supported by the Foundation for Human Rights embarked on the project titled: Strengthening the Voice of Women informal traders in Policy processes.

In carrying out this project, ESSET embarked on a number of activities. One of these is a research that was aimed at providing information on relevant legislation and policies and conducted three days workshops in Johannesburg and Rustenburg on advancing the socio economic rights of women traders. The workshops together with the research resulted in an understanding by women traders of their rights; however the issues on policy still needs further engagement. Thus the upcoming stakeholder dialogue will be used as a platform for both women and men informal traders and policy makers, law enforces to engage, to ensure proper representation of informal traders in policy processes and the realisation of their rights to participate.

The objectives of the dialogue are :
• To engage on the research findings on legislation and policy that has a
bearing on rights of women traders to trade and its implications to
participatory democracy.
• To deliberate on shared experiences and demands formulated while
exploring possible avenues for participation.
• To explore avenues for participation by women traders and to examine
hindrances to participation of women traders in policy processes.

Stakeholder Dialogue schedule details:

Date : 11- 12 October 2011
Venue: Jabulani, Soweto
Time : 10am – 3pm

Informal traders at Stretford station in agitations over eviction

The informal traders selling at Stretford station in Orange Farm (West of Johannesburg, South Africa) have been living in agitations recently after having received a verbal notice that they will be evicted from their trading site to make way for the construction of a mall.

Mama Ernestina Sithole, a widow and grandmother of seven, wants the sale transaction of the land and plans for the building of the mall to be halted. Mama Sithole reveals how it all started: “When we started to trade here in 1989 during apartheid, there were no municipal by-laws or regulations of traders. With only two trains, we survived selling to commuters and why should they make our life hell now in a democratic dispensation when there is more trains and more commuters. We should be allowed to sell more freely to support our families because this is the only means of our livelihood. We want the initial agreement to still be honoured, whereby we are only allowed to trade in stalls in the entrance of the station and not stores inside the mall. We cannot afford to pay more than R100, our profit is little and many of us have many responsibilities”.

Mama Sithole is amongst the few who are the first in Orange farm, who settled in Extension 1 since 1989, where they are still living. They approached the municipality, who was known as the TPA for work but were without luck. Mr. DeBeers who was a land owner then encouraged women like Mama Sithole to brew mageu and make fat cakes and sell at the station. And that’s how they have survived and supported their families.

She and other fellow traders are in distress because if the land on which they are trading in is sold by December this year then that will mean automatic eviction for all traders. Between now and the selling date of the land, traders have vowed to fight for their right to make a living. The Stretford traders are amongst many vulnerable groups of the poor experiencing injustice of the system. Others groups such as the Cloverdene Homeless community who have on numerous occasions faced threats of evictions and be forcefully displaced in their dwelling places.   

She continues to elaborate: “We started to experience threats in our businesses in 1992 when a man called Majola came harassing and chasing us to move away from the station and his land. We resisted eviction and upon doing our own investigations, we discovered that he was not even the landlord and in 1993 he disappeared. Then in 1994 Mr Liewemann surfaced as the landlord and immediately also instructed us to stop trading at the station. We refused to go away. We then told him that we had been there long before he bought the land. We explained to him that the station is a lucrative trading site because most of our customers were commuters using trains. He then agreed that we can continue trading here at the entrance of the station. It is strange that he has now shifted from our original agreement but we will not be timid, we are prepared to fight for our rights to trade here. If we are hungry most of us come here, it has become a shared space for all of us to make a living without having to produce qualifications or certain skills. We don’t say we will not pay rent but we must be given trading space that we can afford to pay and that the rental charges must be reasonable”.

According to the traders they were recently visited by people who claimed to belong to Business Forum and Urban Development respectively, both also indicating that they were acting on behalf of the landlord of the land on which they were trading to come to give verbal notice for the traders to move out so that the construction of the mall would resume. The irate traders have continuously defied verbal notice of eviction by continuing to trade at the station and held meetings with the landlord. They have since approached the Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) to help strengthen their struggle to not lose their right to trade and get better deals from the landlord once the mall is built. The LHR officials and has subsequently engaged the owner (Mr David Liewemann) of the land earmarked to be used to build a mall next to the Stretford station.

In a feedback meeting held last week between the informal traders and LHR officials, the informal traders were still baffled that Mr Liewemann has retrogressed from their original agreement. The traders insist that the landlord assured them that no matter what, they will always be tenants and traders at the land next to the station. He even made them sign agreement of such decision which further assures them that they will only pay R100 per stall on a monthly basis.

However, the feedback from the LHR officials who went to meet Mr Liewemann about the distress of traders signifies that the building of the mall is imminent and that there is little that the traders can do about it. Mr Liewemann is offering to accommodate 32 traders whom he found at the station when he became the new landlord in 1994. He has promised to make available seven square metres each to the 32 traders inside the mall which may be sponsored by other big retailers such as Pick ’n Pay. The traders will be expected to pay at least 25% of rental and when their businesses pick up; they are expected to pay up to a minimum of R1000 per a month. Once the mall is built it will be illegal for traders to continue selling at the station or near the mall.

Bheki Mathebula, one of the traders in attendance at the meeting asked: “Is the landlord hell-bent on going ahead with the construction of the mall whereas it will result in many of us being forced to shut down our businesses and go home to suffer”. The question to which the LHR officials responded with a sad and loud yes and further elaborating that the landlord want traders to move to trade at taxi rank instead of the mall. However, the officials promised the traders that they will put more effort in ensuring that the construction of the mall does not take away their rights to continue selling and making a living. It also came to light that the landlord is currently leasing the land with prospects that the transaction sale will be finalised not later than the end of this year.

The imminent eviction of traders at the station has equally affected both the old and the young. One of the youth traders at the station, Daniel Letsholonyane says that traders as members of the community in Orange Farm welcome developments but it should not come at traders’ expense. “We do not want developments that will marginalise and make us more poorer. If the development is genuine then we should be all be consulted as stakeholders and reach amicable solution. We cannot allow government, business and the landlord to make decisions that negatively impact us without challenging them. This land belongs to us all”.

Empty promises for the Cloverdene community

The Cloverdene community, which comprises of more 100 people including women and children, were excited at the news of the allocation of land but their joy was short-lived when they became aware that their new homes will be shacks. Their new homes were built unashamedly by the ‘red-ants’ using corrugated iron of destroyed shacks.

The leader of the Cloverdene community, Willie Madalane explains: “Our lawyer had informed us that when we move to our land we would have access to basic amenities such as tap of water and toilet for every family. However, a day before we moved in, the office of Housing in municipality told us that there was a land that has been identified in Gabon (Daveyton). We were told that we will occupy that land temporarily. When we arrived there on Saturday, we found the ‘red-ants’ building shacks with old rusted corrugated irons that were used for shacks”.

According to Madalane their lawyer also told them that the Ekurhuleni municipality would built them two bedroom shelters, but they found out that it was not so when they moved it. “Most of the shacks are one room, you are lucky if you have two rooms. The shacks do not even have windows, it’s like they were built for pigs to stay. After we moved in to the new land, we went a month without sanitation. We were then installed only five toilets to cater for more than 100 of us. Having access to water is still a problem to this day; we walk about a kilometre to get it. We tried to install water taps ourselves but the plumber demanded at least R350 from every house, which is an option even more expensive for the poor like us,” Madalane remarked.

It appears that the Ekurhuleni municipality officials have just dumped the community in their new land and only to abandon them. A member of the community says that the official who was co-ordinating their relocation can’t even recognise the leader of the community nor remember that he ever handle their case. No wonder there is sluggishness which results in the municipality not being able to fulfil its promises. Another challenge for the community is that the relocation affected their children who attend school. After the relocation to Daveyton, most of the kids still had to continue attending school in Cloverdene because there were no prior arrangements made to accommodate them in Daveyton schools. Some kids had to drop from school because their parents (mostly single moms) cannot afford to pay R400 transport cost for their kids to continue attending school in Cloverdene. Therefore, the community feels that the municipality did not take into account their rights to be compensated when they moved them away from work stations and schools. Meanwhile, there is restlessness amongst members of the community because they are not even registered as legitimate occupants of their new land. They feel that anyone could come and claim the land from them since the municipality have refused to give them documentation as proof of their legitimacy to stay in their allocated land.

The Cloverdene community who once lived in the open veld near Albert Luthuli Extension 5, Benoni, have chosen to fight their struggle differently. They don’t intent going on the rampage blockading streets and burning tyres to get the attention of the authorities at Ekurhuleni municipality. Instead they say they will remain loyal to their cause and keep on engaging their municipal authorities whilst at the same time praying to God with the churches as they demand their rights.

The leader of the community adds: “This struggle is so personal to me; I could liken it to a calling or a ministry. I qualified for an RDP house long time ago, but I choose to deny myself all the privileges until that same RDP offer is afforded equally to all my community members that are in the same struggle with me”. The Cloverdene community have approached ESSET to continue to mobilise support for them especially amongst the church fraternity. They community is intending to seek an audience with relevant authorities at Ekurhuleni municipality to ensure that their demands are listened to and addressed.

ESSET together Church Land Programme and few churches have been walking along with the Cloverdene community in their fight for justice against their eviction and confiscation of their possessions. After hearing about the plight of the community, ESSET mobilised the churches and organised a prayer service for them. The community was supported by ESSET and the church as the community took the Ekurhuleni municipality to court, in a case which the community won. Churches that have been involved in the struggle of the community included; the Methodist Church in Southern Africa, Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, the Gauteng Council of Churches, United Congregational Church in Southern Africa, Lutheran Church of Southern Africa, Outreach Community Church, Ekurhuleni Ministers Fraternal.

Media Statement: Public Discussion about the rights of Women informal traders

DATE: 17/05/2011

The Women Informal Traders Forum (WITF), a forum of women informal traders that was launched by women traders in August 2010 to fight for the emancipation of women traders in South Africa and the SADC Region, held a Public Discussion on Monday (16/05/2011) with representatives of political parties such as Democratic Alliance, Pan Africanist Congress, Inkatha Freedom Party and National Freedom Party.

As Women Informal Traders we have heightened our campaign during the electioneering period to raise awareness on our struggles and human rights violations. The long term goal of our campaign is to improve the working conditions of women traders and ensure an enabling trading environment for us. Through hosting a Public Discussion with politicians, we seek to put pressure on political parties and government to make commitment to address our demands and plight. Key amongst our demands during the campaign included:

§  A stop to confiscation of stock and reasonable rentals for all trading sites.

§  A stop to sexual and economic harassment of women traders.

§  Proper workshoping and reformulation of informal trading policies and by-laws to be gender sensitive.

§  Development and implementation of uniform informal trading by-laws and policies across the country.

§  Recognition and proper representation of informal traders at all government structures.

During the Public Discussion, a video, depicting the plight and everyday challenges of women informal traders from around Johannesburg Inner-city and surrounding areas was played. Thereof, representatives from various political parties mainly from Gauteng branches were given opportunity to react and make commitments with regard to our struggle. Below is the promises made by representatives from different political parties that attended the Public Discussion:

DA:

The representatives of the Democratic Alliance (DA) have shown interest in building relationship with informal traders. More specifically, the party promised the traders that it will do more to address their issues of allocation of stalls; health and environmental safety as well as studying trading by-laws that usually resulted in harassment of traders. After the municipal elections, DA further promised to seek audience with the Metro Trading Company (MTC), a company entrusted with the responsibility to manage informal traders in the City of Johannesburg. The party stated that it would invite women informal traders to meetings that it will hold with the MTC to explore solutions to resolving problems raised by the traders.

PAC:

The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) appreciated the role played by women informal traders and went further to call them entrepreneurs because they took initiative to create their own jobs. The party criticised government for not recognising the importance of developing and supporting the informal trading sector. It stated that unlike government who prefer to grow big business only, if voted into power it would respect and seek to develop a despised sector like informal trading. It view the informal trading sector as an alternative to creating jobs and believe that some of those in offices of power in government like Ministers, MECs, metro police etc where raised by women traders, who today they are not ashamed to batter. The promise made by the party was that after the elections they would engage the trading by-laws. They urged the informal traders and their association to choose a party that will be able to listen to their needs and comply with their demands.

IFP

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) emphasised that the ruling party has undermined the will of the people by continuing to develop and implement by-laws that still oppresses people like in the apartheid era. The IFP promised to resolve all issues of informal traders by lobbying for the closure of the Metro Trading Company. The party hold the view that most of the decisions regarding the management of informal traders are made by MTC, which has lost credibility because of its corrupt officials. The party promised women traders that their doors will always open and that more discussions about their challenges would be held after elections.

NFP

The National Freedom Party said that their leader who is a woman is very dear to issues concerning women, especially their safety and development. The party noted and appreciated the ability of the informal trading sector to sustain family livelihood and the contribution it makes to the country’s economy. NFP promised women traders that if they would be voted into power they will bring innovative ways to advance the businesses of all traders. Under NFP, women traders and all the other traders will be fully supported to increase job creation. For instance, the party will introduce mobile trucks for all traders, so that from time to time they are able to trade and move freely to areas with better business prospect

Kind Regards

Nokuthula  Dladla

Committee Co-ordinator: Women Informal Traders Forum

Press Statement on behalf of the SADC Solidarity Network of Informal traders

Stand Up Against Economic and Sexual Violence on Informal Traders

On the 5-6 of May, the Ecumenical Service for Socioeconomic Transformation (ESSET) held a consultation that brought together representatives of both local and cross border informal traders, Councils and representatives of Churches in the SADC region and civil society organisations concerned about injustices perpetrated against informal traders. The aim of the consultation was to explore joint campaigns by informal traders that would bring an end to all forms of economic and sexual violence against them.  The consultation ended with the establishment of a SADC Solidarity Network of Informal Traders. One of the goals of this network is to initiate and promote solidarity campaigns that are aimed at fighting injustices perpetrated against informal traders

As we came to the end of the consultation, we were reminded that struggles of informal traders are real. They affect real people who live in this real world that has become the real enemy of God. It is a world where women and girl children cannot live in freedom, as theirs is a world of abuse, rape and marginalisation. The news of the rape of a young girl, a daughter of one of the women traders who could not make it to the consultation came as a shock to all of us. This devastating news came even as we spent the two days deliberating on how we can support informal traders to put an end to all forms of violence against them, particularly sexual and economic violence. Such forms of violence come in various ways. Informal traders spend most of their time at work on the streets or across the borders, constantly dealing with harassment by government officials. These officials steal from them the little that they have through unlawful confiscation of their goods. These unscrupulous officials also demand bribes from poor people who are trying to make a clean living for their families.   Lack of recognition of the informal trade sector by most of the SADC countries has negative consequences for the countless numbers of people who depend on informal trade for their livelihood. This lack of recognition is seen in the absence of policies that support informal trade in most countries and the contradictory nature of the policies where they exist. Even regional integration that is supposed to play a major role in addressing poverty and inequalities excludes informal traders.

Women traders also face humiliation through sexual violence, including demand for sex or to be touched in return for safe passage through the borders or to escape stock confiscation. Sexual violence is a vicious act inflicted upon its victims bringing untold suffering and pain. No child or woman in this world should ever have to go through rape or any other form of sexual violence.

The SADC Solidarity Network is calling upon all of us and especially churches to rekindle their commitment to justice, by standing in solidarity with informal traders in their war against sexual and economic violence. If the sexual violence against informal traders is not enough to stir sufficient anger against social and economic injustices perpetrated against the poor, would we allow ourselves to be agitated enough by the rape of the defenceless little daughter of one of the informal traders? We are also calling on all our governments in the SADC region to stop ignoring this sector and begin to see it for what it is – an alternative that has for years sustained many poor families in the region.

Issued by the SADC Solidarity Network of Informal Traders

Tel: 0118331190              Email: info@esset.org.za

Those who dare challenge government for their rights, risk facing state militarisation

Days after the brutal murder of Andries Tatane, we at the Ecumenical Service for Socio-Economic Transformation (ESSET) are still coming to terms with its implications for us as a nation and specifically for the faith community. Tatane was beaten and killed by police who should have protected him. He was killed while exercising his right to protest in demand of a life giving basic service - water.

Tatane’s death demands some honest reflections by all South Africans. Firstly, it is worth noting that Tatane  was killed during Lent, an important time in the church calendar when Christians prepare to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ our Lord. Tatane’s brutal killing at this time connects to our own internal reflections and questions about the meaning and implications of the killing of Jesus Christ. Jesus was killed for challenging the hegemony of his time and for speaking out against the leaders of his day who oppressed the poor.  The political and religious systems failed to protect him though he committed no wrong. The leaders who should have stood for the truth and protected Jesus instead had him killed in order to preserve their own positions. Whilst his friends and the crowds that hailed him as he made a grand entry into Jerusalem may not have literally nailed him, they failed him at his hour of need.  Some denied any knowledge of him whilst others sold him out for some payment. Possibly, they all may have felt powerless against the systems and rulers of the day. Yet it remains true that they could have done something to protect the innocent man.

Just as in the case of Jesus, Tatane was let down by the systems that could have protected him. His life ended in the hands of ruthless police who seemed to have lost any sense of humanity and  conscience as they repeatedly beat him in front of his fellow community members. As if the beating was not enough, they completed their vicious perfomance with a bullet.

What does it say to the citizens and the poor?

Tatane’s death reflects the ongoing state brutality that has been launched primarily against ordinary citizens of South Africa. For some while now  the country has witnessed the ruthless actions of the police against ordinary and unarmed people as they demonstrate against lack of service delivery and in defence of their dignity. Tatane was just but one of many ordinary citizens in the country without services who are determined that the legacy of those who fought for freedom should not be in vain. Those who know Tatane tell us that he was a gallant community activist always ready to put the interest of his community first. Like many militants in South Africa, we are told that Tatane followed his heart and conscience by challenging and confronting police who at the time were treating the elderly of his community with contempt. This courage and desire for life and dignity sadly cost him his life.  

But what does all of this say to ordinary South Africans who want to fight for their rights. Is this a cue that all those who dare point a finger at government will be harshly dealt with? Is this the kind of freedom many had fought for, freedom for the police and politicians to do whatever is in their power to maintain the status quo? Was it not the freedom for all who live in the country to enjoy the benefits of it? Was it not freedom from poverty and exclusion? Was it not freedom of expression?

The police brutality against ordinary people seems to be a contradiction of the message of the ANC in its election manifesto which commits the party to “working together to build better communities”. Which communities is the ANC building if it sheds innocent blood instead of listening to the demands of communities? Is the ANC backtracking on the values underpinned by the Freedom Charter – the freedom of people to govern?

What does this say to our country and its systems?

Going back to our reflection on the death of Jesus Christ and juxtaposing it with Tatane’s death, we can deduce that those who wanted Jesus dead had many reasons to be threatened. Some were threatened by the huge following that Jesus had. Others were uncomfortable with the manner in which he spoke prophetically against their hypocrisy, oppressive systems and practices. In the South African case we are left wondering, what has happened to turn the leaders against their own people? Is it possible that, that which has been left undone and the unfulfilled promises raises a fear in our leaders–a fear of the anger of the discontented citizens? Is Tatane’s killing sending a message that South Africans no longer have the right to speak out and challenge their leaders about their failures and lies to the citizens?  Why could a ruling party that led people to freedom all of a sudden revert to using apartheid-era tactics to silence people who voted them to power? Could it be that the ruling party is trying to assert its oppressive power against any elements that dare challenge or dent its image before the local elections?

Tatane’s killing comes at a time of the militarisation of police as demonstrated by the “shoot to kill” messages and the introduction of military ranks and discipline in the police service. Those of us who are said to be ignorant of our Constitution have just been educated by the Senior Magistrate and head of court in Mamelodi that our over celebrated “Constitution and democratic dispensation allows for police to shoot and kill”. There should however be justifiable reasons under which this is allowed.  Whilst it can be appreciated that police have to protect themselves, we can never justify the use of unwarranted force against unarmed citizens who do not pose a danger to society. It does seem however that as a country, we have put in place systems which lack checks allowing the misuse and abuse against ordinary citizens.

What does it say about the faith community?

The faith community worldwide professes to have a preferential option for the poor. This in essence involves immersing ourselves in the struggles of the poor. It also involves speaking out against the injustices inflicted against the poor. The death of Tatane however raises direct questions to those of us who are the followers of Jesus. Would Tatane have died if we had stood up and registered our objections to the “shoot to kill” messages by our leaders and militarisation of police? Would he have died if we had stood by ordinary citizens who have continuously suffered against police brutality over the years? Would Tatane have died if we had refused to accept as normal the dehumanizing conditions that many citizens live under? How can our faith practices continue as normal when innocent citizens continue to suffer and even to die in our nation? Are we genuinely committed to our assertion of the preferential option for the poor?

In true characteristic of our time, the tempo around his death will quieten down and his name will all but fade away from our conversations. The popular media will run off to feed our hunger for the next sensational event. The truth remains though that by our silence and lack of responsiveness, we as the faith community are all guilty of Tatane’s death.

Worker Sunday Letter to the churches and church Activists

Once again the Worker’s Day Campaign is upon us. As you may know, this is a church based campaign that begins every year on the 1^st of May, aimed at building solidarity with the working and unemployed poor.  This campaign presents us as the church community with an opportunity toshow our solidarity with the poor which our Lord Jesus Christ chose to identify with.  During this time churches are urged to dedicate one service from the 1^st of May to the marginalised. Our belief is that as we do so, we join Jesus in bringing the liberating gospel to the poor.  This is also an opportunity for us to connect with those that Jesus calls “blessed” for it is through these connections that we as the Church community can experience the grace of God.

Last year the Worker Sunday Campaign focussed on those that were excluded, marginalised and left in the margins as a result of   the World Cup.  During this time we called upon churches to embark on public services as a way of declaring their support with these and against the injustices that ensured that the poor remain outside the camp.

This year the focus of the Worker Sunday Campaign is on “Exploring Alternatives”. This theme stems from a sad reality and recognition that our current socio-economic context fails to serve the interests of the poor. This context makes aloud proclamation that the world as it is, is the direct opposite of what God would want it to be. The poor are still systematically excluded from the benefits of our economy; our policies are skewed towards the rich; our political leaders continue to be driven by greed as evidenced by the rampant corruption   where our leaders rob the poor for their own personal enrichment; our government is intent on silencing the pooras is clearly demonstrated by the hard rod placed upon those who dare voice outtheir displeasure and anger at the current state of affairs. The poor suffer the consequences of climate change they are not even responsible for.The oppression and marginalisation of women is far from being over, keeping most of them at the margins of society .This context demands of us as the church to take a stand,

·         astand for justice and against the neoliberal agenda that operates on principles of exclusion and marginalisation.;

·         a stand and a call for alternatives,informed by our gospel imperatives of love and solidarity, peace and human dignity.

·         and a stand in solidarity with those who suffer the consequences of the current neoliberal policies that place profit ahead of people;

What can you do as the church or activist?

There are a number of ways in which you can become part of the Worker Sunday Campaign

1.         Poor people, the unemployed and others that suffer the consequences of the current exclusionary and oppressive policies are all around us. Use this time as a church and church activist as an opportunity to connect to their struggles for it is through our immersion in the struggles of the poor that the church can be the real church. When we do so, we “will be throwing ourselves into the arms of God” allowing ourselves to take seriously “not our own sufferings but those of God in the world[1]”. It is through these struggles that we will truly encounter God.

You can begin by identifying a group of people or a marginalised community you would want to focus on as the church. Once you have identified this group or community, visit them, may be as an individual or a group from your church. Hold open conversations with them. This requires listening with respect to their stories, for out of these stories we can learn a lot about our Lord Jesus Christ and what he requires of us at this time.

2.       Find out from this group or community how you and your church can be of support to their struggles. In the short term, one of the ways in which you can show this support is by holding a Worker Sunday Service in support of those you would have connected with. It would be very pleasantif you could discuss with this group or community as you plan your service.  ESSET will also provide a Daily Bread Digest with stories from other marginalised groups and a guide for liturgy on how you can organise your Worker Sunday service. The Daily Bread Digest is a theological tool that is produced yearly by ESSET to enable churches engage with poverty related issues that batter our society. You can use this document in whatever way you like as the church. ESSET also has posters that can be sent to you should you have an interest.

                                                                                         

3.       Lastly, we would be delighted to explore possibilities with you and to hear about your activities on this campaign. You can share your activities in the ESSET website - www.esset.org.za.

May the God of justice – the one we seek to follow inspirer you as you seek to be his hands and feet in our fallen world!

Yours in His Service

___________________

Thembela Njenga

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[1] Jacobsen, A (2001:15)

Rev Dr Vuyani Vellem and church Ministers in Gauteng reflect on Isixeko at ESSET Discussion Forum meeting.

Rev Dr Vuyani Vellem presented a rich paper on Isixeko at a Discussion Forum meeting hosted today at Khotso House Chapel by ESSET. Rev Dr Vellem described the concept of Isexeko as a rich theological and liturgical resource that can be employed as a symbol of life giving experience and to reflect on issues of economic justice. He said Isixeko is not about outreaches and salvations, but immersion in struggles of the poor and being in solidarity with them for a vision of a collective share in the rhythm and drumbeats of life.

He described the Christian celebrations during the Easter period as a typical act of Isixeko. These celebrations are self-organized form of liturgy by ordinary people involved in struggles and whose forms of worship are not recognized by the mainstream church. Isixeko is characterized by raptures, boisterous dancing and singing of the excluded publicly expressing their yearnings to be included and challenging the dominant hegemonic economic trajectories.

Gauteng Legislature vow to help stop human rights violation of informal traders

The International Commonwealth Day celebrated on the 14^th March 2011 at Johannesburg City Hall, which was organized by Gauteng Legislature to honour and acknowledge the role of women as agents of change, helped to surface the violation of the rights of informal traders.

Previously, women informal traders have made submissions to the office of the Premier of Gauteng and various government departments complaining about the manner in which they are treated as traders. Amongst others, they lamented that there have been incidents of harassments, discrimination and assaults of women traders at their trading stalls. Some of the perpetrators use culture to abuse women traders and children. Most importantly, they demanded a stop to law enforcement with immediate effect. In addition, they argued that women traders should be included in the formulation of policies, including the street-by laws. This, they believe will give them opportunity to influence decision making processes particularly on issues affecting their day to day activities.

According to the Speaker of Gauteng Legislature, who is also the President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Ms Lindiwe Maseko the focus of celebrating the International Commonwealth Day in 2011 was to honour women informal traders as agents of change in society. Ms Maseko said the initiative of honouring and working with women informal traders was in-line with President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address in which he declared that 2011 should be a year of job creation. She emphasized that Gauteng Legislature was not able to create jobs directly and therefore would only provide opportunities and help protect the rights of those who create their own jobs like informal traders.

“In his State of the Nation Address, President Zuma promised that government will support small medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).  The Premier of Gauteng also stressed that 130 000 permanent jobs and 175 jobs (in the Expanded Public Works Programme) would be created. We are interested in exploring ways in which we can work with big business, other development agencies and organisations to support informal traders. We are looking at the possibility of capacitating women traders on information computer training. Our view is that women have previously been disadvantaged and therefore should be given preference,” the Speaker further elaborated.

When afforded platform to speak during the questions and discussion segment, informal traders left no stone unturned. One woman trader hinted that organizing a workshop with informal traders post the 2010 World Cup was a futile exercise because many of the informal traders were either evicted or barred from trading in their sites during the tournament.  “The current democratic regime allow for the use of the same draconian by-laws implemented during the apartheid government era. For instance, metro police constantly come to impound my stock where I trade. The worst part is that it is unlikely for me to claim back my stock because most of the time some metro police go as far as eating my stock immediately after they have impound it. When I confront them about this, they tell me that I can’t do them anything,” lament a woman trader from Bree Mall.

In responding to the questions and concerns raised by the informal traders, Deputy Chief Whip of Gauteng Legislature and also a Commonwealth Parliamentary Branch Chairperson, Ms Jacqueline Mofokeng explained that the purpose for the meeting with informal traders was not only to honour and acknowledge them as agents of change but also expose them to opportunities of public participation processes and the operation of Gauteng Legislature.

Ms Mofokeng Elaborated: “It is not an oversight that you are not in the programme as speakers. We first heard of challenges in your sector from the Gauteng Department of Economic Development and immediately engaged researchers to provide us with information. After we studied the feedback from our researchers and what we are hearing here today, we are more than convinced that indeed there is need to convene another meeting where we will invite relevant authorities such as MEC for Finance, MEC for Safety and Security, MEC for Agriculture and MEC for Economic Development. As Gauteng Legislature we believe that your sector should be supported and that in the past you were disadvantaged. You have the right to approach the legislature if your feel that your rights are violated. I have heard many of you repeatedly complaining about the harassment by metro police. We have a Petition Unit that can help you write petition to demand that metro police should stop to confiscate the stock of informal traders until a meeting between the informal traders, government departments and institutions managing informal trading and representatives from Legislature have been convened”.

The commitment made by the Gauteng Legislature in intervening on issues raised by women traders and informal traders in general is welcomed news in a month marking human rights, International women’s Day and International Commonwealth’s Day commemorations. This is also a positive response that women informal traders have been waiting for. We can only hope that this engagement between informal traders and authorities at legislature is not the last because for many a time the traders were never afforded chance to inputs into policy making processes and by-laws that governs their sector.

Not only did they write a petition to the office of the Premier of Gauteng and other government departments. During last year’s 16 Days of Activism against the Abuse of Women and Children campaign, women informal traders partnered with the Ecumenical Service for Socio-Economic Transformation (ESSET) and Genderlinks to embark on awareness campaign to highlight the violations of their human rights and endeavoured to restore their dignity.