Midrand informal traders market and others join forces to clean Midrand trading spaces
Chairperson of the Midrand Informal Traders Joseph Maile said darkness and alleged criminality combined with dirt were affecting their business.
In a bid to draw more customers and restore cleanliness in spaces they operate in, the Midrand informal traders market took to the streets of the Boulders taxi rank to clean.
This occurred on July 22, when the informal traders said that they were losing customers, due to a dirty working environment and high crime rates.
They were assisted by other market traders from Faraday, Bree, Jeppe, Baragwanath, Yeoville, and Hoek, as well as being joined by Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), the custodians of the stalls around the Boulders taxi rank.
Also read: Swazi Inn gets a new, clean look
@caxtonjoburgnorth Midrand Informal Traders market clean stalls spaces outside the Boulders Taxi Rank in Halfway House. Video: Sphiwe Masilela #taxirank #informaltraders #midrandreporter #midrand #fyp #fypシ゚ ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
Chairperson of the Midrand market Joseph Maile said poor maintenance of the rank has led to rodent infestations. “We have high rodent infestation because of the dirt, and when it’s like that, customers are scared to come buy at our businesses. Also, having no lights inside the rank has seen many of our colleagues leaving their stalls to go trade somewhere else.”
He said the high crime rate was also making their job difficult, as the criminals were allegedly stealing their leftover stock and material.
Florence Mametja, market secretary, added that this was affecting everyone. “This is our project, and we want to take over, clean for ourselves, because we are not getting help from people who are supposed to clean our workspace. Also, regarding the issue of security and stock theft, we now have to pack our material and take it home, then bring it back the following day to reassemble, which is too much admin.”
Also read: Cleaning Noordwyk Park for runners to enjoy
Property administrator at the Kliptown facility, under JPC, Sello Malange said that since the Covid-19 pandemic, he noticed that the Midrand facility was deteriorating. “I used to work [in Midrand], as facility manager, and when I heard about this initiative, we raised our hand as JPC to come assist with the cleaning.”
He said it was important for them, and the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, not only to sit in their offices, but also to be on the ground, and to ensure that their facilities were taken care of and well managed.
Malange concluded that Midrand was a large taxi rank, with high traffic volumes, requiring regular cleaning and maintenance.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
