Shanze King, a street vendor operating between Maxmind Private School and Eastdene Combined School, has rebuffed an article published by the Middelburg Observer about the conflict between herself and Maxmind Private School.

In the article that was published on May 1, Maxmind Private School stated that three children allegedly became sick after buying icies that were stored at the back of Shanze’s car.

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On May 7, Shanze came to the Middelburg Observer’s office to offer her perspective on the situation, stating that the published article has severely affected her business of delivering baked and cooked foods to businesses and residents alike.

Shanze said that she feels there is nothing wrong with selling food in the street between Maxmind Private School and Eastdene Combined, and that she is being singled out and picked on.

“There are lots of people selling food here and have been doing so for many years. Why am I the only one being asked to leave?” Shanze then stated that she would like to have a meeting with Jean Olivier, the director of Maxmind Private School.

Shanze said that she is a single mother of six children and needs an income to support her family, however, in photographs sent to the Observer, a man can be seen accompanying her as she sells her goods to the children.

Shanze had originally told an Observer journalist that the man was her husband.

When the Observer first spoke to Shanze, she also claimed that she did have a permit, but that it had expired. This admittance means that Shanze continuing her operation selling to school children is illegal.

The Observer reached out to Mr Olivier, who stated, “We have asked and will ask all illegal vendors to stop selling homemade or store-bought goods without the proper documentation.”

And regarding a meeting being held, Mr Olivier said, “We cannot entertain coming to a compromise with someone who is breaking the law.”