One day I won’t be surprised to wake up and find someone selling live chickens and goats in Barberton!
Goats and chickens are important animals among African people. There is a belief among many that a goat or a chicken can be used to communicate with the ancestors and ask for good luck and to wash away or prevent bad luck.
The rate at which informal businesses have mushroomed in Emjindini and Barberton, it is no longer funny.
At some point we all thought it was a frenzy that was going to die down, but the situation on the ground is the contrary.
Anything and everything from love potions to counterfeit goods are being sold. Pamphlets of traditional healers promoting illegal abortions and those promising to assist with work-related issues, financial problems, bad luck and how to multiply one’s money through ancestors, are distributed in broad daylight and with increasing intensity just after working hours.
Right from De Villiers to Crown streets there is hardly any space that is not occupied by a vendor.
These streets have become so busy and chaotic, it’s unbelievable. What was initially thought to be a search for the moolah one month end, has become a menace that requires those in authority to move in and act decisively before the situation gets uglier.
Not that I’m against vending. No, not at all. I have a lot of respect for people who try their best to make a living out of decent and sober means; braving the heat, cold, rain and the cat-and-mouse games with the police as they fend for their families.
Many teachers, nurses and police today have gone through school and colleges through funds raised from such vendors so I never underestimate what these businesses can achieve.
This is obviously way better than pickpocketing, shoplifting, robbery and corruption in all its forms.
While I acknowledge the desire by the vendors to make a living and their unprofessional way to use aggressive marketing of taking their services and products right to the people, the manner in which this is currently done creates more chaos.
By-laws by our authorities need to be implemented. Walking in the streets in town has become problematic.
While dodging your way past bicycles, mattresses and clothes displayed outside shops on the pavements, you are always swamped by people wanting to hand you over their advertising pamphlets and salesmen and women selling their products.
Really, strolling on the pavements in our town has become hazardous.
Something needs to be done by those in power and done soon to end the chaos and uncontrollable behaviour by some vendors and advertisers in our streets.
