KDM and SANRAL butt heads over Umvoti traders

KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) has cracked down on the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) about building trading stalls at the Umvoti toll plaza – yet another of the agency’s unfinished projects in the district.

At a recent meeting between the two departments, KDM officials questioned when sanral would honour its commitment of more than a year ago to replace the trading facilities that were demolished at Umvoti.

This is one of the nine incomplete Sanral projects in KwaDukuza.

Also read: KwaDukuza officials banned from blue light brigades

However, in a council report back of the meeting, Sanral once again tried to dodge responsibility for the project, listing preconditions for KDM which the municipality noted as unacceptable.

“The suggestions were that KDM consent to the building of a wall around Umvoti toll and that the municipality removes hawkers before the stalls are built.”

While KDM supports that stalls be built in order to encourage employment, Sanral officials said they were concerned about uncontrolled trading and said if that were to happen, it would pose a risk to motorists.

Last year, the road agency issued a warning that motorists who supported the hawkers by buying goods at the toll would be fined.

This came after numerous reports of puppies being sold at Umvoti. This has not stopped sellers, mostly from Thembeni, from approaching motorists.

If built, the new trading structure is planned to be for the sole use of recognised traders. KDM refused to let Sanral off the hook and advised that Sanral make sure it is budgeted for the 2019/2020 financial year.

“The position of the council is clear, that the building of new facilities for informal traders is a non-negotiable issue that was decided a year ago.

“Sanral should also engage RTI to provide assurance on barring people trading on the national road as the municipality does not regard those traders as genuine since most of them are allegedly also involved in unacceptable activities within their community.”

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