The forgotten parents of ghetto dreams were treated like human beings once more by Zama Hlengwa, Lesego Gwebu, Yolisa Dlamini, Nqobile Cele, and Slindokuhle Jeza, at Cane Growers Hall, ML Sultan Campus. The five Durban University of Technology public relations first year students co-ordinated a workshop for street vendors in partnership with StreetNet, as a platform for them to discuss the challenges they face every day and seek possible solutions. The aim of StreetNet is to promote the exchange of information and ideas on critical issues facing street vendors and market vendors and hawkers (mobile vendors) and on practical organising and advocacy strategies.
The isolated community forgot about their daily hardships as they were introduced to world issues including climate change, with many hearing the story of climate change for the first time. Nokulunga Langa and Thabani Khumalo (BTech Interpreting Practice Students) helped by interpreting, as some of the informal traders did not understand English.
Bryan Ashe from Geasphere explained what climate change is, what it has destroyed already and what it might destroy, if nothing is done about it. He then shared some of the ways energy can be renewed in South Africa to avoid wasting money and cited R9 billion which was spent on a nuclear programme that failed dismally. He concluded his brief talk by saying the COP 17 conference should be beneficial to street vendors, unlike the 2010 World Cup which was not inclusive.
The workshop exerted an emotional toll on the struggling when Sthembiso Madlala from the South African Informal Workers Association (SAIWA) called a spade a spade. He said the most important thing is for them to stop calling themselves street vendors, but rather informal traders because they are contributing largely to the growth of the informal economy. He said he is aware of ill treatment by officials and their negative outlook of their businesses but said they can ensure that informal traders are treated as human beings. The emotional crowd agreed that building a huge trade union to represent the interests of informal workers (similar to COSATU) would be an ideal strategy. They would then be a force to be reckoned with as there are many informal workers across South Africa.
Councilor Judy Mulqueeny told the informal workers that her hands are tied as she was no longer on any economic bodies in eThekwini Municipality. She said there is hope with Mayor James Nxumalo in charge as there are internal changes already. Mulqueeny asked the sombre crowd to keep pushing for their cause and vowed to stand by them through thick and thin, but said she would only help them if they are truly ready to help themselves. She also committed to helping them together with the PR students to draft a memorandum that will be handed to the Mayor’s Office on their behalf.
The Public Relations Students from “Fiver Communications and Events” were thanked by members of the community, some crying, for giving them a platform to share their views on the difficulties they wake up to everyday. They also praised the group for representing women well and for attesting to the growing fact that women are thriving.
– By Nqobizizwe Zwane
