Plan to improve look of informal businesses in CBD

The ugly look of informal businesses in the city centre is a major concern to leaders of the Women in Action (WIA) informal traders’ organisation.

WIA treasurer Mary Choma revealed this to Rekord on Friday, to convince informal traders to support the initiative of improving informal businesses and their look.

“Informal trading is one of the most important economic sectors in the country but it does not receive the respect it deserves,” Choma said, adding that this is associated with poor set-up and business practices.

She said, with a proper plan in place and working together as women, this could change for the better.

“As informal traders, we need proper structures matching the standard of the buildings in the city centre. Thus, we have to do away with the gazebos as they make our businesses and the city look untidy.”

She said a gazebo can be used as a temporary shelter but is not suitable for everyday business.

“We need decent and permanent structures.”

She said a gazebo has a lot of disadvantages including that it is not effective in the rain and exposes stock to the elements.

“This is an insult to our sector and it is being disrespectful to our customers,” she said.

She said the process to improve informal businesses had already begun as they were collaborating with other businesses to exchange skills.

“Some important training the informal traders need include business and financial management,” she said.

“We need informal traders who are innovative and able to compete effectively with formal businesses.”

She said informal traders now understand that they contribute immensely to the success of the formal sector as customers.

“While we have no problem with supporting formal businesses and buying products from China, we think it is necessary to not overlook the developing local economy. We, therefore, encourage manufacturers in townships and rural areas to avail themselves so that we can support their businesses by buying their products.”

She said as long as the local products met the needs of consumers, they would buy and sell them.

She said it was also important for informal traders to come together and buy in bulk to maximise their profit and sustain their businesses.

WIA has invited all informal traders in the city and the entire Gauteng to a meeting on August 31 at KT Motubase Hall, extension 4 in Soshanguve from 09:00 to 16:00.

President of WIA Lily Sambo said the meeting would bring everybody on board and create a platform to discuss important issues related to informal trading and also allow them to take important decisions.

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