The Warwick Junction informal trading market in Durban was recently a hive of activity as Inhlalo Yabesifazane, in collaboration with the Durban University of Technology Green Campus Initiative and Community Engagement Office, eThekwini Municipality and the Wear Your Brand Foundation, hosted a successful English Market Clean-Up and Informal Trading Revitalisation Campaign.
The initiative focused on promoting clean, safe and hygienic trading spaces for street vendors operating within Warwick Junction. By encouraging improved hygiene standards, the campaign aimed to create a healthier environment for both traders and consumers who rely on the bustling market for their daily goods.
Several non-profit organisations and multiple departments within eThekwini Municipality also supported the clean-up, demonstrating a strong spirit of collaboration among civic bodies, higher education institutions and community stakeholders.
Delivering the opening remarks, Ms Nosisa Mbobo, Area Manager of the Business Support Unit at eThekwini Municipality, expressed her appreciation to all partners and volunteers who participated in the initiative. She highlighted the importance of maintaining a clean working environment, particularly in spaces where food is handled and sold to the public.
“We are grateful to everyone who came out to support this initiative. A clean trading environment is essential, especially when working with consumers. We also acknowledge the ongoing support from DUT. The university has assisted Inhlalo Yabesifazane at the Bovine Head Meat Market through financial literacy training programmes. We value that collaboration,” she said.
Among the volunteers was Innocentia Mahlangu, a third-year Internal Auditing student at DUT and an executive member of the Green Campus Initiative, an organisation dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability both on and off campus. Mahlangu noted that the initiative reflects the organisation’s commitment to community engagement and environmental responsibility.
“As GCI, we believe community engagement brings meaningful change and improves the environment,” Mahlangu said. “Being present today was not only about representing DUT but also about contributing to positive change for the traders at the market, because at the end of the day, we buy food from them,” she added.
Participants worked with dedication and enthusiasm, collecting waste and restoring cleanliness to the market area. The visible transformation of the trading space reflected the collective efforts of students, municipal officials, non-profit organisations and community members.
Ms Xolisile Nzuza, co-founder of Inhlalo Yabesifazane, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to the campaign’s success. She emphasised that partnerships such as these play a vital role in empowering informal traders and strengthening local economic spaces.
The campaign not only reinforced the importance of hygiene and environmental sustainability but also highlighted the power of collaboration in driving community development and revitalising informal trading hubs in Durban.
Pictured: Stakeholders who were part of the market clean-up.
Phumeza Msongelwa
