The City of Cape Town will meet with SAPS next week to discuss the policing and safety needs for the annual Somerset West Festival Under the Lights. This comes after an outcry over the possible change in dates for the festival, due to the lack of policing resources over the busy Christmas period, which is when the event is usually held. The City has offered to accomodate traders from the 2 – 14 December, however traders are unhappy about this, saying that there is less festive season activity during this time.

“The City has prioritised creating a conducive, productive and profitable space for all informal trading on markets as the industry does promote economic development as it produces a space of job creation,” says Mayoral committee member of tourism, events and economic development Gareth Bloor.

“We will ensure that there are right conditions for traders, conditions of economic development. It is critical for the economy and it is critical for traders.”

With the festive season approaching consumers are flocking to stores for gifts. Often cheap and unique presents can only be found at street vendors. Blue sun-kissed skies and the demand for products creates a beaming opportunities for traders to cash in on festivity.

Business is more profitable for traders within these spaces than formal business ventures or employment as consumers have more buying power due to the pricing of the items on sale.

“They make more money during this short period of time selling things informally on the market than they do doing any other work in an entire year,” says Bloor.
Products and services are cheaper from informal traders as they have minimal operating expenses to cover.

Despite this informal traders are not registered business owners and are therefore susceptible to exploitation.  The City will be having a meeting to ensure satisfactory conditions for trading of vendors.

“It is critical for traders to have good trading conditions,” says Bloor. VOC