Businesswoman blames GMM for sabotage

Local businesswoman Sibongile Mokoena has accused the Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) of sabotaging her small food business, which she has run from a caravan near the municipality’s technical yard in eMbalenhle for some time.

Mokoena claims the abrupt disconnection of water and electricity in the area, without warning or explanation, has brought her operation to a standstill and put her source of income at risk.

Mokoena says her primary customers include employees from the technical yard. However, she claims GMM officials are now trying to force her to shut down by demanding she remove her caravan from its current location.

“What the municipality is doing is painful to me and my employees. This business is our way of surviving. The government always encourages us to open businesses and create employment, yet the same government is now shutting mine because someone doesn’t want to see us succeed,” said Mokoena.

According to Mokoena, four GMM officials recently visited her caravan. They told her she must vacate the area because she did not have a permit and was accused of wasting water from the technical yard, claims she denies.

“That’s a lie. We bring our own water every day. As for the permit, the municipality should first focus on shutting down the many foreign nationals operating food businesses from caravans near the eMbalenhle Mall, most of whom, to my knowledge, are not asked for permits. Why target me?” asked Mokoena.

She expressed frustration at what she feels is selective enforcement of the law. She said that her attempts to get help from the local economic development (LED) office had failed.

“They just say I don’t have a permit. But what about the foreign nationals who operate freely? Are they held to the same standard?” asked Mokoena.

She added that the actions of the GMM had left her and her employees stranded and without income.

“We have no money to support our families or send our children to school,” she said.

Donald Green, the GMM media liaison and content development officer, said the owner failed to produce a trading license or permit and a food inspection certificate. Green said they also did not have a permit to occupy the area where they traded.

“Those people were illegally tapping water from the municipal technical yard, which is not allowed. As much as we promote local economic development, people must comply with the relevant laws. The caravan was not forcefully removed; she removed it herself after a notice was issued,” said Green.

Green said the municipality, through the LED section, supported all efforts to help informal traders and street vendors with permits to let them trade at identified spots. Green advice for traders wanting to apply for permission to do business.

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Application requirements:
1. Complete the application form provided by the LED section of the municipality in the Secunda head office;

2. Hand over the completed form to the LED office.

3. Attach the receipt to the completed application form together with:
• a copy of your certified ID;
• tax clearance certificate (for registered businesses);
• the property particulars (accessible from room 321 for informal traders);
• Applicants who apply for a caravan, trolley or take-away must identify at least three suitable places (within the available stand);
• certificate of acceptability (for food outlets);
• land use rights certificate (accessible from room 326);
• municipal water and lights or agreement account;
• letter of authority from the owner to operate;
• certified ID copy of the owner.

4. Pay a *NON-REFUNDABLE* application fee prescribed by the authority. R350 for informal and R500 for established businesses. (Applicant must wait to pay until advised by LED officials);

5. Waiting period for approval should be at least 30 days;

6. The authority must screen the applicant for any criminal conduct under his/her name;

7. The business licence/permit should be renewed annually;

8. Environmental health practitioners and other relevant authorities shall inspect the premises unannounced.