Informal traders have been hard hit by the lockdown.
They cannot claim for UIF or any business funding in order to put food on the table.
So last Wednesday, Philippi residents in Thabo Mbeki informal settlement clubbed together to provide a month’s supply of groceries for their informal traders who were selling on the streets.
Community leader Buzwe Kali says: “There is no provision for informal traders.
“They do not qualify for any funding and we as community members know these people.
“They sell in our area, we could not fold our arms while they will go to bed without being able to feed their families.”
Buzwe says when the suggestion was made during a community meeting, everyone got excited and wanted to pledge: “It was not difficult arranging this as everyone was looking forward to donating because here we are one big family.”
The groceries donated included sanitisers and food hampers.
AID: A month’s supply of groceries
Zukiswa Ndedwa is a fish and chips seller who provides for three children.
“I was starting to feel the impact of the lockdown as I could not buy meat. I am grateful to the community for doing this for us,” she says.
“Many of us have no formal education and selling is the only way to put food on the table.
“The government did not think about us when implementing the lockdown.”
Noncedo Naphakade said her prayers have been answered for now.
“Every night, I thought about where our next meal would come from as I am not allowed to sell on the street,” she says.
“I appreciate this gesture and I do not know how to thank the community.
“This was very thoughtful of them, as street traders we are happy not only for the groceries, but knowing that our community does care for us.
“I have never imagined that they would come through for us this way.”