Portfolio Head for Development and Planning, Councillor Nomvuyiseko Mgedezi, handed over tools of vouchers to three Hawkers Associations that are in the units of this municipality, last week.
Hawkers who benefited from this initiative were members of Dutywa Hawkers Association, Gatyana Hawkers Association, and Elliotdale Hawkers Association.
Beneficiaries were selected for support through the provision of vouchers that will help them to boost their small businesses.
Portfolio Head for Local Economic Development (LED), Councillor Nomvuyiseko Mgedezi, said that the section for Enterprise from Mbhashe Local Municipality handed over vouchers to informal sectors (Hawkers) in all three units under this municipality.
She said that they started in the financial years of 2022 to 2024/2025, and indicated they will do this initiative annually, with the aim of assisting hawkers to fight poverty.
She confirmed that it was not their first-time to do this initiative; they started by buying fruit, vegetables, and seedlings, but they realised they were not assisting them enough because some of these things got rotten faster.
Mgedezi added that they then decided to come up with vouchers so that each person can buy what he/she sells.
“The informal traders from this municipality are helping us a lot in economic development, because they also hire some community members to help them in their businesses. Even those who are doing catering are opening job opportunities because you find that they hired more than one person in their businesses,” said Mgedezi.
Chairperson of Gatyana Hawkers Association, Nolufefe Magatya from Willowvale, confirmed that they had received vouchers from this municipality.
She said that they were very happy, and it was not the first time they had received help about vouchers.
“I think it is for the third time now, ever since we made an agreement with them. We are happy that nothing has changed ever since we made an agreement; instead we are going forward. Everything that we are doing is still successful and as a result I am encouraging other people that these things are not happening in one day; they take time but at the end you receive something so they must be patient. Let us have hope that even if you did not get something today, you will also receive it one day,” said Magatya.
Deputy chairperson for Dutywa Hawkers Association, Zoliswa Ndlebe, also thanked this municipality for showing care in them.
“I am grateful about the care they gave us,” said Ndlebe.
