THE eThekwini municipality manager Michael Sutcliffe has been accused of trying to create a racial rift between Indian and black traders.

Informal traders in the Warwick Triangle have been at loggerheads with the municipality for more than four months over attempts to move them to another site.

The municipality wants to relocate traders from the historic market to make a way for an estimated R400million mall.

But the traders are refusing to be relocated.

They claim that the mall won't serve their interests and would destroy their businesses.

Traders' representative Harry Lamla said the city had no interest in serving the lives of the poor.

He lashed out at Sutcliffe, accusing him of trying to divide Indian and African traders. "Mike Sutcliffe wants to divide us, claiming to bring development. He wants to allocate us a place which is not suitable for our market."

Thousands of traders assembled in a stakeholders meeting organised by 1860 Legacy Foundation in Durban on Monday night where Sutcliffe, who attended, was booed by the traders.

Premier Zweli Mkhize has appointed a task team to look into the dispute.