BUFFALO City Metropolitan Municipality Executive Mayor Xola Pakati recently handed over a container mall to informal traders in what the municipality says is an ongoing effort to support and accommodate the small business and informal sectors.
The metro’s Business Development Unit first rolled out the informal trader’s infrastructure programme in 2018 in Berlin, Mdantsane, Zwelitsha and Bisho.
Project Manager Khungeka Somnono said, “Due to the success of the programme, the unit is continuing to implement it in different areas within the city including Scenery Park.
“These are all community owned projects whose institutional setup is premised on generating economic value to contribute towards the city’s economic growth,” Somnono added.
In his speech at the mall handover, Pakati said, “The city has invested R3.4 million in this project for 17 beneficiaries from Scenery Park. This is another initiative by the municipality to fight unemployment in our city.”
The container mall consists of a hair salon, internet café and printing shop, as well as outlets offering shoe repairs, arts and crafts and cooked food.
Hair salon owner Thabo Sabetshu said, “I am so thankful to the Metro. Bow we have a safe place for our businesses. The city has taken us from nowhere to somewhere.
