TEARS and disbelief were the order of the day on Friday, 11 November when cops confiscated goods sold by hawkers outside Mams Mall in Mamelodi, Tshwane.
Taxi drivers were not spared as they were issued tickets.
Hawker Rejoice Mokwana (49) said she lost her pots and food as she sold food outside the mall.
“We are angry because they took our goods. What shocked us is that they even loaded cooked food into their trucks,” she told Daily Sun.
“I had already cooked, and they took my food.”
Rejoice said the city doesn’t care about them as this is their only way of making a living to feed their families.
Another hawker, Lucy Sithole (29), said what happened to them was an evil act by the City of Tshwane.
“We are trying to make a living as there are no jobs.”
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On the other hand, Mamelodi Local and Long-Distance Taxi Association spokesman Mpho Mukhari said what happened to the taxi drivers was not right.
“These people have been working here for a long time.
“I believe the Metro police should have engaged us as leaders first before issuing tickets,” he said.
Mukhari said they needed a taxi rank at Mams Mall.
He said three taxi drivers were issued with fines for obstruction.
“We are ready to engage with all partners involved, which is SAPS, Metro police and Mams Mall management,” he said.
Tshwane Metro police spokesman Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said: “Those are planned daily operations and all are expected to comply with city by-laws and Road Traffic Act.
“Fines were issued and no arrests were made. We’ll continue to conduct such operations to create a safer city for residents.”
