Plight of informal traders takes social media by storm

A social media user, Kagiso Legotlo, recently shared it on Twitter. It is a picture of a Mbombela woman selling vegetables in the CBD.

The post was shared nationwide on social media, both on Twitter and Facebook. It was first shared by Nelspruit Post on July 2018 and now it is being widely shared as a meme by tweeps and Facebook users. On Facebook it was shared 9 100 times, with 850 different reactions. On Twitter it was liked 3 300 times and retweeted 1 600 times.

HERE IS THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Informal traders concerned about CID’s proposed fees

The picture’s caption read, “If she says tomatoes are R5, and pay R5, no need to negotiate. If she says onions are R6, pay R6, no need to negotiate.

If she says spinach is R8, pay R8, no need to negotiate.” It further explained that the public should negotiate with well-known supermarket chain stores and Legotlo also stated that the supermarkets are rich already.

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This message has resulted in people talking about how informal traders struggle to make ends meet.
When the newspaper visited the informal traders in the CBD, they explained their daily hardships and how they sometimes only manage raise money for transport home.

An informal trader in the central business district, Phindile Mhlanga, said she has three kids and spoke about how one of them has to walk the streets selling atchar.

Looking at the response from social media users, it seems as if customers being unwilling to pay the full price to informal traders is happening everywhere. Most of the comments were criticising how people always want discounts or pay less than the money asked for.