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.
Monday 21 November 2011
Friday 11 November 2011
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
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
Friday 4 November 2011
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
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
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