Bara hawkers welcome March and March protest
In place of the usual trading activity, the walkways appeared noticeably clear, with little to no congestion.
Hawkers at Bara Taxi Rank have welcomed the easing of congestion caused by the large number of vendors at the rank on June 30.
The change follows the March and March Movement’s planned protests against illegal immigration at various locations across the country, including the Johannesburg CBD.
The publication visited the area and found the usually busy walkways, typically lined with hawkers and vendors, largely empty. The reduced trading activity resulted in noticeably clearer pathways with little congestion. However, litter scattered across the ground suggested there had been recent activity despite the reduced presence of traders.
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Hawker Jabulani Dladla said they were now able to work freely without the presence of illegal vendors.
“We are happy that the March and March Movement protest has successfully cleared Bara Taxi Rank again.
“However, we are concerned about what will happen tomorrow and the days that follow, because these illegal vendors told us they will go into hiding just for today and return once the situation is calmer,” Dladla said.
He added that relations between hawkers and illegal vendors are often strained, saying they do not work well together and that the illegal vendors tend to disregard others while dominating the trading space.
Meanwhile, some shops at Bara Taxi Rank remained closed.
