‘Illegal traders’ continue to impact CBD businesses

As previously reported, business owners have complained of the traders using a parking lot to conduct various illegal businesses including mechanical workshops.

It was also reported that the so-called mechanics force customers to use their services rather than the formal businesses in the same precinct.

This, according to business owners, has severely affected their income over the past few months, as some clients refuse to return to the area out of fear of being harassed by the traders.

One businessman to whom the Advertiser spoke has made it his mission to stop the hawkers and has lodged daily complaints to law enforcement and the municipality.

However, he claimed the cries for help have gone unanswered.

“They have sent out a team one or two times to remove the hawkers, but within an hour or so, these men are back in the parking lot conducting their illegal businesses. Other times we are told it will be dealt with, but no one ever shows up. I have even spotted law enforcement vehicles in the lot, but they were not there to remove the hawkers; instead, they were doing business with them,” claimed the businessman.

After several months, the Advertiser managed to secure an official statement from the Newcastle Municipality regarding the issue and what they plan on doing about it:

Mthandeni Myende (Manager: Communications and Customer Relations) responded to an official media inquiry and had the following to say:

• NA: What is being done about the hawkers?
• MM: The illegal traders located on the Midas parking lot were included in a process undertaken by the Economic Development Directorate, together with law enforcement, to deliver notices to all illegal traders, whereby five illegal traders were identified and served formal notices in February 2023.
  These illegal traders were operating within the automotive sector (mechanical & panel beating). There was a follow-up inspection and it was noted that the illegal traders were no longer present within the vicinity.
  On April 3, a meeting was held to discuss the issue of the illegal traders within the Midas parking lot with the following role players: SAPS, Home Affairs-Immigration, and bylaw enforcement to identify the challenges and a way forward.
  On April 10 a blitz operation was conducted that included bylaw enforcement officials, South African Police Services, IThemba Security, and Home Affairs Immigration, where two illegal foreign nationals were detained.
• NA: Is there a bylaw in place for instances such as this, and if so, what is the bylaw?
• MM: Yes, Newcastle Informal/Street Trading Bylaw 2014
• NA: If this bylaw is not adhered to, what is the consequence thereof?
• MM: If not adhered to, the informal traders are to be reported to bylaw enforcement, whereby the transgressor is then attended to following all protocols and bylaw regulations.
• NA: What can businesses do to stop this from happening in the meantime?
• MM: By ensuring the transgressors’ matter is reported and brought to the attention of Newcastle Local Municipality Bylaw Enforcement
• NA: What steps should they follow when reporting this?
• MM: The matter can be lodged at the Newcastle Municipality, Local Economic Development Directorate, 4th Floor, Tower Block. Thereafter, the Directorate will escalate the matter to the law enforcement department to investigate the matter.

Kindly contact the LED Directorate at (034) 328 7600.

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