The hawkers sowed disarray in the usually clean CBD and disrupted traffic. They overturned dustbins and dragged branches and steel fences, that were erected by city officials to prevent them from selling their wares, into roads. In some places fires were started on pavements.

The hawkers operated in groups and frustrated the police by moving to another street as officers tried to clear one.

The protest started on Tuesday when hawkers occupied the vibrant Marabastad business district forcing every shop to close. They protested in front the Tshwane market where they usually buy their stock in the mornings. They blocked the main entrance forcing delivery vehicles to turn back. They then proceeded to the CBD where they littered the streets.

Yesterday most shops in the CBD were closed for business. The hawkers threatened to loot operating businesses and destroyed stock belonging to fellow hawkers who were not part of the protest.

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Wed May 22 06:21:17 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 23, 2012

Sinudeity_

People who trash and vandalise their own city should be deported.
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Aug 23, 2012

tpaz

@Sinudeity.....you a Refugee from WC ?

The city is clean without the hawkers, but have the MEtro provided an alternative trading place ? - No

These people are trying to make an honest living, Tshwane should house them behind ABSA (new place).

Criminal elements should be arrested.
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Aug 23, 2012

LBS

>>Yesterday most shops in the CBD were closed for business. The hawkers threatened to loot operating businesses and destroyed stock belonging to fellow hawkers who were not part of the protest<<

Anarchy reigns supreme!

They should never have been allowed to set up on the streets in the first place!
Many cities have become filthy no-go areas (for the sane) and stormwater drains are used as rubbish bins.
Loss of income to legitimate business must be horrendous!!
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Aug 23, 2012

candilious

@tpaz there are places for these people to trade the problem with them is their do not want to pay for the stall .Yesterday i was at Jabulani Mall Metro also had an operation clean up.


The pavement are there for citizens to walk not for seling i agree let them greate a market space for these people their are really messing up Mzanzi really



@Sin - i gathered asmuch yesterday most of them should be


@LBS-I agree with you on this .This could make some Traffic cops loose a bit of weight ,if this operation could be done everyday the streets will be clean by 2013 stroes .Johannesburg stinks ........man
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Aug 23, 2012

Sinudeity_

tpaz - "The city is clean without the hawkers"

Yeah.


"have the MEtro provided an alternative trading place"

You mean like they do in Cape Town? The plain by the train station is space used for informal trading, as well as Green market square.

You should visit CT, and compare that to Pretoria and Joburg.
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Aug 23, 2012

LBS

'Morning Candi - the hawkers should be forced to clean up themselves. In Durban one year, the city centre flooded because of all the filth shoved down the drains.
I won't even drive there anymore.
The traffic cops should deal with the unroadworthy taxis, that will keep them well occupied! :)
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Aug 23, 2012

Nys1

These guys are the reason why most of us would rather go shopping at malls than @ CBS , slowly but surely legitimate businesses are moving out and the city council is losing revenue.

The council must build stalls for them and let them pay to use them , finish and klaar

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Aug 23, 2012

Nys1

lol CBD not CBS
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Aug 23, 2012

Mokwepa

i drove through strben street round about lunch time...and i was so scared
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Aug 23, 2012

Mothata

The hawkers sowed disarray in the usually clean CBD and disrupted traffic.
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If the place is normally clean then what are the cops cleaning?
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