UPDATE: Motorists who support hawkers face fines

Motorists who stop to buy from hawkers at the Umvoti toll plaza could face a hefty fine while the hawkers who rely on their sales to make a living will be left without an income.

After reports of people being mugged, hijacked and even killed at the plaza, an urgent meeting was held last Wednesday between the South African National Road Agency (SANRAL) and various law enforcement agencies.

A woman was shot and killed in an attempted hijacking at the plaza on March 12.

A source within the police told The Courier that one of the resolutions from the meeting was to fine and charge motorists who support the hawkers.

“There is security at Umvoti toll but they are sometimes outnumbered by the hawkers. The hawkers sell everything from vegetables to puppies.

“People complain about being harassed by them while others suspect they are involved in the crime that takes place there. Although they are chased away, they always come back so this is the only solution we could think off.”

SANRAL project manager, social economical development and road incident management system coordinator Nomusa Modise said a public statement would be released.

“We are working with the KwaDukuza council and they will have a press briefing with an offical statement. We can confirm that there was a meeting.”

Ward 11 Thembeni councillor Innocent Nxumalo said he recently met with the hawkers and found that most are addicted to whooga.

“We are busy trying to get help for those who are willing to be helped. We are not saying all the crime committed at the toll is done by them. It is possible that there are other people from other areas who came there to hijack people and the hawkers take the blame,” said Nxumalo.

However, three of the hawkers, Sandile Mthembu, Professor Dube and Spiwe Ncane said they would not leave the toll.

“We have been here for two years and we are blamed for crime because it is easy to blame us. But we are not involved. We are here because we do not want to do crime,” said Dube.

Mthembu admitted that they sometimes harass motorists but said they had done so out of desperation.

“I have family to support and all three of us dropped out of school. It is very hard to find a job and I know because I have tried. I admit that sometimes we harass people but we are here for the whole day and sometimes we do not have money to buy food to take back home.

“We get desperate. People drive here in a bad mood and start swearing at us as if we are not also people. That is sometimes how a fight starts.”

The hawkers said they report to the toll everyday at 8am and leave at about 7pm. On a good day they can make about R200.

The measures to fine motorists should start before Easter, however, KwaDukuza SAPS spokesperson warrant officer Johannes Khoza urged people to avoid stopping or parking at the plaza.

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