OVER 150 street vendors in Warwick Junction have raised concerns about the deteriorating state of the precinct which they said impacted their human rights and impinged their dignity.
Therefore, they've made repetitive appeals for assistance to the eThekwini Municipality but received no joy.
Their core grievances centred on precinct's lack of accessible toilets, which have been padlocked since September, and the absence of running water, which created conditions that severely affected their operations and well-being.
Mxoliseleni Thandawuphi, a vendor who has been trading in the area for 15 years, described the precinct as being in a state of complete decay.
He said the lack of basic sanitation, such as working toilets, and clean water, contributed to the area's growing neglect.
“This space was created to support us, the informal traders, but how can we work when it's falling apart? We pay a permit fee to the municipality to work here, yet we are left to endure these conditions,” said Thandawuphi.
Thandawuphi sells a variety of goods, including clothing, face cloths, sandals, and electrical appliances, and like many other vendors, he pays between R575 and R975 annually for a permit to operate.
These fees were meant to secure the right to trade in the area, with the expectation of infrastructure improvements.
“We pay for these permits thinking the municipality would maintain and upgrade the precinct, but nothing has improved,” said Thandawuphi.
“In fact, things are getting worse. It feels like no one is listening to us. All we want is for the municipality to treat this place with the same care they give other business hubs in the city.”
In an attempt to hold the city accountable, Thandawuphi and fellow vendors approached the office of the Public Protector, but they were met with frustration. “We were told to go back to the city. We’ve also tried to engage with city officials, but our complaints have fallen on deaf ears,” he said.
The Warwick Junction precinct was among the areas earmarked for a multi-billion rand rejuvenation project, which was set to kick off ten years ago in 2015.
The initiative was aimed at giving it a much-needed facelift to areas such as the Point, Albert Park, Greyville, Victoria Embankment, the beachfront, Kings Park, and the uMngeni Corridor, with the goal of attracting major businesses back to the city.
But this has not produced any results.
Another affected vendor, Sibongile Msani, who sells food in the area, expressed the strain the conditions have placed on her business. “The lack of water and toilets is a huge problem. I spend about 16 hours a day here cooking, but I don’t have water. It makes it incredibly difficult to run a business under these conditions,” she said.
Msani further said the unsanitary conditions became evident due to the lack of proper facilities. “People urinate against the walls because there are no toilets. Even though there are toilets, they have been padlocked by the municipality without any explanation. The smell is unbearable, and it’s affecting our livelihoods.”
The Daily News team visited the precinct and was greeted by a stench of urine lingering in the air, which vendors attributed to the lack of toilets and the unhygienic conditions.
One vendor shared that some traders were forced to rely on dirty water from a hole in the centre of the road triggered by the recent floods.
Msani said, “Who would want to buy food from a place that smells like this? It’s unsanitary, and it’s driving customers away. The municipality needs to fix this situation urgently.”
In response to questions submitted by the Daily News, the municipality indicated that it would provide answers within 24 hours.
However, when the newspaper followed up yesterday, the municipality requested further details regarding the specific facilities in Warwick Junction affected by the water and sanitation issues. At the time of publication, no official response had been received.
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