Metro ‘fails to assist’ flea market with grounds
The metro is allegedly charging R45 000 a month for municipal grounds to operate from
THE owners of Events 67, which hosted a flea-market in a public park in December, are now looking for permanent grounds to run the market every weekend.
The owners accuse the metro of charging them R45 000 to use municipal grounds.
For the past six months, Events 67 has been trying to establish an arts and crafts market or flea-market in Kempton Park, Louis Boshoff said. He said the first market last year was executed successfully.
“For four weeks Kemptonians could enjoy hand made products sold by exhibitors,” he said.
“All we want is assistance from the metro as this is a job creation project. We also appeal to businesses and individuals who have or know of grounds we can use temporarily to come forward,” said Boshoff.
He said there were 81 stall holders who were set to benefit from the success of the project. They are just waiting for the opportunity to showcase and exhibit their products.
“People go to Boksburg for a flea market. We’re trying to bring it home so people come from other towns to us and not the other way around,” he added.
Boshoff’s partner and organiser of the market, Sifiso Nxumalo, said there had been numerous back and forth communication between Events 67 and the metro to no avail.
“If Ekurhuleni is in any way interested in the upliftment of its community and job creation, they should be able to support us with grounds and the necessary facilities,” he said.
Metro spokesman, Themba Gadebe, said the tariffs quoted in the metro’s by-laws and that there were council procedures that must be adhered to in order to protect the community.
He added that this and other relevant information had been supplied to Events 67.
“According to the tariff document R1 180 is charged for the use of a park or a portion thereof for a circus, amusement, fairs per day and a deposit of R11 740 for business ventures when occupying the whole park.
Applications for the use of a park or portion thereof for operating a business venture must be submitted in writing to the HOD, and an agreement drawn up by corporate and legal services subject to compliance with the by-laws governing the regulation of parks and open spaces,” he explained.
