Businesses shut down in Thembisa and Ivory Park
Business people voice their frustration as they only have one source of income.
The national lockdown has impacted many local informal businesses in the township.
Local businesses from taverns to street vendors, supermarkets and spaza shops witnessed a shutdown of their businesses by law-enforcement officers.
The busy streets of Bophelong Market, known as Swazi Inn street market, were empty as the police moved around to ensure businesses that were still operating were closed.
Hassan Abdikadir, owner of Mursal Cash and Carry Supermarket, voiced his frustration on the closing of his shop and shared the impact it brought to his business and employees. He said the shops were closed down by law-enforcement officers in the morning. Only Pick n Pay supermarket was the only shop left operating.
“We understand what the president said, we do retail and wholesale here. Are we not providing essentials that people need? From big-sized products and buying in bulks?
“All the big supermarkets pay rent and taxes like we do, our shop is registered. We pay tax and rent, we need to understand why we close while we are not a restaurant.”
Abdikadir said this situation is creating a big loss for them, forcing him to cut jobs for his employees.
“It is a big loss; we hire at least more than 20 people here as we have security personnel, packers, cleaners and so on.
“We are waiting to see if there is any way we can operate, even if it means trading for a few hours a day because we sell in bulks, not like in spaza shops,” said Abdikadir.
Linda Mojela, owner of Mojelo’s Tavern, said they bought stock from a brewery on credit and fears they will have nothing to repay their suppliers.
“We have no choice but to comply with the rules. We had to close and the police are confiscating alcohol in other liquor outlets that are opened.
“It makes life hard because we have expenses to pay and daily businesses to run. This is our source of income, where are we going to get the money to buy essential things when we sit with stock? We can’t cheat the system, we have to comply but this is no life we expect to live,” said Mojela.
