Fishmongers say Easter is their peak season, but they are not allowed to trade and are instead being klapped with stiff fines.
Like most other businesses, the fish trade has slowed down during lockdown as both subsistence fishermen and traders battle to get permits from authorities.
Under lockdown rules, informal traders are not allowed to sell, but the City of Cape Town has since amended this, and applications for informal traders selling raw food like fruit and veg, fish and meat and sweets and cooldrinks are now open.
With Easter happening this weekend, snoek is being sold for between R150 and R250 a pop.
Hake is going for R80 a kilogram.
WATCH: Easter snoek prices are fishy. Picture: Venicia Valentine
In Lentegeur, Achmat Mohammed, who has been trading for over 25 years, says he got a R1500 fine after cops accused him of brokering from his bakkie, which was standing in the parking lot.
“We have been without fish for 10 months and now it’s Easter and the fish bite, but we can’t sell it,” he says.
“We have been trading since Monday, the snoek is going from R150 to R250, ocean fresh.
“I got my fine on 31 March, I was not trading, I was standing in the parking lot here and had brought my wife to the shop.
“The fish was closed on my bakkie with a sail. I said I am not working.
“They wrote a fine to say I am disobeying an officer, but I didn’t.”
Achmat Mohammed says he got a R1500 fine. Video: Venecia Valentine
Fishmongers at Viking Road, Epping, who have been selling fish at the location for 20 years, say they are being hassled for permits, but are still making money.
Jerome Carolus, who spoke on behalf of the traders, says: “We are selling our snoek for R250 and we are paying the fishermen who catch it R170,” he says.
“Most of us have permits and there are those who are battling with their permits and we don’t understand why.”
But customer Ingrid Nicholson says with everyone suffering under the lockdown, fishmongers should play their part.
“Why must we pay over R200 for fish when it is over two weeks in lockdown? We don’t have the money.
“We are the working class.”
Ingrid Nicholson says with everyone suffering under the lockdown. Video: Genevieve Serra
The City says informal traders can call 021 400 3131
and select option 6 for help.