ANC celebrations: Locals businesses thrive due to influx of visitors
Bonus spoke to vendors about the economic impact the ANC's 110th celebrations had on their business and what they think the ANC can do to assist local businesses more.
POLOKWANE – An upside to the ANC’s 110th celebrations being held in Polokwane was the opportunity for local businesses to make money from the influx of visitors to the city.
A lack of accommodation due to fully booked lodges and hotels saw some residents renting out their homes to ANC comrades who were willing to pay up to R80 000 for the weekend.
One local, who opted to remain anonymous, says she received a number of calls from business associates from outside Polokwane who wanted assistance with accommodation.
“When I called some of the local overnight accommodation places, they were all booked by Wednesday afternoon. A friend of mine casually mentioned that she wouldn’t mind renting out her house for R45 000 and my business associate actually took her up on the offer. After that, he referred more people to me who were looking for accommodation and it gave some of us the opportunity to make a profit.”
The municipality also requested the extension of trading hour, to aid the ailing economy, which was approved by the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism.
Local liquor restaurants also saw an influx of customers and most of them had to erect additional space to accommodate the extra people. A
NC regalia were also selling like hot cakes with vendors at the ANC’s provincial office, the accreditation venue and outside the stadium.
On the day of the main event, local vendors flocked to the Peter Mokaba Stadium in hopes to make some money and a few hours later, most of them had made more than they usually make in one day.
BONUS spoke to vendors about the economic impact the event had on their business and what they think the ANC can do to assist local businesses more.
