The hawker down the street

Zimbabwean national Margaret Sibanda (60) came to South Africa hoping for greener pastures. She arrived in South Africa in 2005 and lives in Zandspruit.

“With limited resources and less job opportunities, I had to leave my country in order to be able to provide for my family,” explained Sibanda.

Upon her arrival in South Africa she started working as a domestic worker, but only did so for eight months as her health soon deteriorated. “I was at Helen Joseph hospital for almost a month. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and the doctors instructed me to stop doing domestic work.”

Sibanda then become a street hawker. Her small stall is situated on the corner of Hole in One and Peter roads in Ruimsig. She sells cigarettes, sweets, crisps and fruits. This is her only source of income and she is at her stall daily from 7am and 5pm. She makes around R200 per week. Her rent costs her R300 per month.

Sibanda uses her income to care for her two children as six orphans who were left in her care.

Sibanda is struggling to obtain the documentation needed for her to trade legally. “I don’t know what to do anymore. The police always arrest me because I don’t have the documents.” She has on several occasions asked the metro police what steps she must take. “They never give a straight answer.”

Every time she is arrested she has to pay a fine of R500 and alleges that sometimes she never gets her stock back.

Metro police spokesperson Edna Mamonyane said that confiscated goods are always returned once the fine has been paid. “The fine depends on the kind of goods that were taken from hawkers, whether it was perishable or non-perishable items.” She added hawkers need to legalise their operation by registering at the Metropolitan Trading Company, which falls under the City of Joburg.

Details: Metropolitan Trading Company 011 833 7344, www.joburg.org.za