A GROUP of hawkers known as Dobsonville 28 have accumulated a whopping R3-million from National Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry shares, which they want to use to build amarket.
The group was formed a few years ago when Nafcoc gave out shares to long-standing members.
The group is also prepared to share their pot of gold with fellow traders in Dobsonville, Soweto.
"We know the struggle of having your store taken from you by the metro police and the poverty that comes along with it," said group member and regional chairman Mike More.
Dobsonville 28 have forwarded a proposal to the City of Johannesburg, which involves building a small shopping centre near the Dobsonville taxi rank where hawkers can sell their goods.
More, said they were tired of waiting for the city to build them a marketplace and were now prepared to develop it for themselves.
"Today we are meeting the city half-way. We are doing this out of love even though sharing your money is not that easy," More said.
Another member, Philisiwe Madonsela, said she started her business in 2005, selling meat and pap and joined Dobsonville 28 in 2008.
"I hope this project materialises so that we can build a better future for our children," Madonsela said.
More extended an invitation to other hawkers, saying that if they joined the group they could also end up owning shares. Group members were presented with their share certificates at a launch held at a shopping centre in Dobsonville last week.
The city's deputy director of economic development for small, medium and micro enterprises, Xolani Nxumalo, commended the group on their achievement.
But Nxumalo said no deal had been brokered yet between the city and Dobsonville 28 .
Though the group is prepared to use its funds for the development, he said they would have to go through legal processes to establish whether they qualified.
Nxumalo said there was also a need to repair the relationship between the metro police and traders. - zmahopo@sowetan.co.za
Hawkers get R3m pot of gold
A GROUP of hawkers known as Dobsonville 28 have accumulated a whopping R3-million from National Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry shares, which they want to use to build amarket.
The group was formed a few years ago when Nafcoc gave out shares to long-standing members.
The group is also prepared to share their pot of gold with fellow traders in Dobsonville, Soweto.
"We know the struggle of having your store taken from you by the metro police and the poverty that comes along with it," said group member and regional chairman Mike More.
Dobsonville 28 have forwarded a proposal to the City of Johannesburg, which involves building a small shopping centre near the Dobsonville taxi rank where hawkers can sell their goods.
More, said they were tired of waiting for the city to build them a marketplace and were now prepared to develop it for themselves.
"Today we are meeting the city half-way. We are doing this out of love even though sharing your money is not that easy," More said.
Another member, Philisiwe Madonsela, said she started her business in 2005, selling meat and pap and joined Dobsonville 28 in 2008.
"I hope this project materialises so that we can build a better future for our children," Madonsela said.
More extended an invitation to other hawkers, saying that if they joined the group they could also end up owning shares. Group members were presented with their share certificates at a launch held at a shopping centre in Dobsonville last week.
The city's deputy director of economic development for small, medium and micro enterprises, Xolani Nxumalo, commended the group on their achievement.
But Nxumalo said no deal had been brokered yet between the city and Dobsonville 28 .
Though the group is prepared to use its funds for the development, he said they would have to go through legal processes to establish whether they qualified.
Nxumalo said there was also a need to repair the relationship between the metro police and traders. - zmahopo@sowetan.co.za
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