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Hawker clean-up

WA R N E D : An official from Mbombela local Municipality in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, talks to the angry vendors that they should not invade the Buscor premises otherwise they will be arrested. Pic: Andrew Hlongwane. 19/08/2009. © Sowetan.
WA R N E D : An official from Mbombela local Municipality in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, talks to the angry vendors that they should not invade the Buscor premises otherwise they will be arrested. Pic: Andrew Hlongwane. 19/08/2009. © Sowetan.

STREET hawkers in most parts of Limpopo face evictions if they do not vacate their trading space by the end of the month.

STREET hawkers in most parts of Limpopo face evictions if they do not vacate their trading space by the end of the month.

This will become a reality if they do not adhere to a directive by the municipalities and Limpopo Economic Development Enterprise.

This follows a letter requiring all street vendors to move to alternate venues by the end of August.

In a letter, which is in Sowetan's possession, LimDev says most of the vendors are operating illegally on its premises or sites without valid operational licences.

The letter says in part: "Please, take notice that it has come to our attention that you are conducting a business on our premises without our consent.

"This is in contravention of municipal laws and the lease agreements we have with our legal tenants. This serves as a final notice to you to vacate our area.

"We advise you to stay away from the site on or before August 30 2009, failing which we will institute legal actions against you ..."

Giyani Small Business Organisation chairperson Mike Mube said it would take a miracle to make them leave their businesses.

He said they had been working on the sites for more than 25 years and no one would tell them to leave.

"LimDev and the municipality can go to hell, this is our land," he said.

LimDev managing director Stan Mathabatha said yesterday they were only implementing the concerns raised by municipalities about the sprawling structures in town.

He said they had received numerous complaints that the structures were filthy and not good for the business of the town.

Meanwhile, about 200 hawkers in Thohoyandou were evicted from their stalls yesterday because "their businesses were attracting crime and causing pollution".

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