Street trading in South Africa : an investigation with the emphasis on the policies of major local authorities towards street trading
Terblanche, Freda Marié (2001-12)
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Informal street trading is an aspect with which South Africa's ever growing
cities need to cope. Since the earliest times, trade has played an important role in
creating livelihoods for many people. In today's society - characterised by
unemployment and underdevelopment - informal street traders have recognised
that there is a gap in the market, and thus, by plying their trade they created a
sustainable livelihood for themselves. It has to be admitted that town planning
over the years neglected the role of the informal street trader, and not much was
done by way of creating a city sphere to accommodate the street trader.
In chapter two of this study the discussion addresses the historical role and
activities of the informal street trader, and surveys aspects of legislation and
racism that played a prominent role in previous times. Authorities did not regard
informal trading in a positive light and many harsh steps were taken against
street traders. This provides one of the reasons why no latitude was granted to
informal street trading and why South Africa's existing efforts to accommodate
informal street trade could at best be described as dismal.
In chapter three the role and extent of informal trading in the economy is
discussed. A study was made of the possible reasons why the informal street
trade has emerged, and the contribution of the informal trade towards South
Africa's Gross Domestic Product, is also dealt with. Today informal street trade
is viewed as one of the ways by means of which to alleviate South Africa's
existing employment crisis and accommodation of the informal street trade is
seen as a top priority.
When considering the phenomenon of informal street trading, it is impossible to
ignore the people who are involved in this sector. They have created not only
jobs for themselves, but a sustainable way of living. Chapter four attends to the
characteristics of the informal street trader and also addresses the problems and
challenges that these people have to face. Addressing these problems or
challenges is not an easy task, and one of-the major problems in this respect has
been the question of legislation. Informal street trading needs to be directed through laws and policies, aimed at addressing traders' needs and which are
proactive in creating a positive trading environment. In chapters five and six the
legislation and regulation of informal street trading in three of South Africa's
major metropolitan cities - Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban - are
reported. Chapter seven contains the conclusions of the study, followed by some
policy recommendations. These are based on the findings made in the study on
informal street trading, and could possibly enhance the proactive control and
development of informal street trading.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Informele straathandel is 'n verskynsel wat volop in Suid-Afrikaanse stede voorkom.
Handel is verantwoordelik vir die skep van werksgeleenthede en in vandag se
samelewing, wat gekarakteriseer word deur armoede en werkloosheid, bied informele
straathandel 'n uitweg aan menige persone om In bestaan te voer. Deur die jare het
stadsbeplanning nie die nodige aandag aan die informele straathandelsektor gegee nie
en meeste Suid-Afrikaanse stede kan nie hierdie tipe aktiwiteit suksesvol akkommodeer
In hoofstuk twee van hierdie studie word daar ondersoek ingestel na die historiese
agtergrond en aktiwiteite van die informele straathandelaar en word kwessies soos
wetgewing en rasisme aangespreek. Owerhede het tydens die vorige bedeling nie die
straathandel as 'n positiewe aspek van Suid-Afrika se groeiende stede beskou nie en
sterk maatreels is teen straathandelaars gene em. Weens hierdie stappe en aksies, het dit
gelei tot 'n stedelike omgewing wat nie straathandelaars vandag kan akkommodeer nie,
en word dit ook as die rede beskou waarom huidige pogings tot die akkommodasie van
straathandel nie as besonder suksesvol beskou kan word nie.
In hoofstuk drie word die rol en mate waartoe informele straathandel tot die land se
ekonomie bydra, bespreek. Die moontlike redes is ondersoek om die ontstaan van die
informele straathandelsektor te identifiseer, en ook is gekyk na die bydraes wat die
straathandel tot Suid-Afrika se Bruto Binnelandse Produk maak. Vandag word die
informele straathandel as 'n moontlike oplossing vir armoede en werkloosheid in Suid-
Afrika beskou en word die ontwikkeling van die sektor as 'n top prioriteit hanteer.
Daar is ook ondersoek ingestel na die mense wat betrokke is in informele straathandel.
Hierdie deel van die bevolking was in staat om op 'n volhoubare manier werk vir
hulself te skep. Hoofstuk vier stel ondersoek in na die kenmerke van die informele
straathandelaars en kyk ook na die daaglikse probleme en uitdagings wat hierdie mense
beleef. Om hierdie probleme en uitdagings te bowe te kom, is nie eenvoudig nie, maar
die grootste probleem vir straathandelaars spruit voort uit wetgewing oor die sektor.
Informele straathandel benodig rigtinggewende w.etgewing en beleid wat die sektor se
behoeftes en probleme aanspreek en ook 'n positiewe omgewing vir die straathandelaars skep om in te werk. Hoofstukke vyf en ses stel ondersoek in na die bestaande
wetgewing oor informele straathandel, soos dit aangetref word in drie van Suid-Afrika
se grootste stede, Kaapstad, Port Elizabeth en Durban. In hoofstuk sewe word die
gevolgtrekking en beleidsvoorstelle rondom die bevindings van die studie gemaak. Dit
sal dan moontlik lei tot die bevordering en skep van 'n gunstige en pro-aktiewe
omgewing waarbinne informele straathandel kan floreer.
Please refer to this item in SUNScholar by using the following persistent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52462