SECUNDA – The police and traffic officers clamped down on people selling food and other goods from caravans in the CBD on Tuesday, 19 November.
These illegal traders got notices three months ago that their caravans will be towed away if they do not adhere to these notices.
Those who had no permit and whose caravans were not roadworthy got fines.
These caravans have been a headache for a long time and residents complained they were dirty and a health risk.
“Where do these people go to the bathroom?” asked a resident.
The hawkers sitting on the pavement in the CBD are however still a problem for shopowners and residents.
“They are now also beginning to trade in Oliver Tambo Street across the new mall.
“It looks like a pigsty there,” said a resident.
The head of marketing and communications of Govan Mbeki Municipality, Mr Henry Masango, said: “A meeting was held some time ago with the owners of these caravans wherein it was explained that they are in contravention of the municipal by-laws for trading without a permit and not observing the said condition of their hawking licenses which stipulate that they must tow away their caravans at the end of each business day.
“The observation has been that some decided to leave them parked at the designated hawking spot with people sleeping in them, thus creating a public nuisance.
“The chilling incident of a caravan which burned out in the Secunda CBD with a person being inside some time ago still lingers in the minds and called for tighter law enforcement which will be a continuous process.”
