By: Nosipho Haya-Komisa
Disgruntled hawkers at the Bhisho taxi rank expressed concerns about the state of their vending stalls as criminals are constantly vandalizing them.
The newly revamped 28 stalls were handed over to these hawkers by the former Finance and Economic Affairs MEC, now Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane and the Buffalo City Metro Executive Mayor Xola Pakathi early this year.
The Hawkers claim that criminals stole their stalls security gates, they added that the standard of their stalls has deteriorated due to break-ins.
One of the hawkers who sell fast food, Sibusiso Rala said they want the Eastern Cape government to intervene.
“We want the government to assist us to make sure that the stalls are sustained, and we are appealing to the municipality to provide us with visible police patrols at night especially during this festive season,” said Rala.
She added that if the municipality and the provincial government would electrify all the stalls in the area, that would reduce the number of break-ins.
“These stalls have become an easy target for criminals as they have not been electrified,” she said.
Buffalo City Metro spokesperson Samnkelo Ngwenya could not be reached for comment.