The owner of Maroro Spices, Wendy Somlayi, has defied the authorities and still operates from a space that she should not, according to the Khayelitsha Community Trust.
Image: Phiri Cawe
Trading To maintain peace and order at the Khayelitsha Mall, the Khayelitsha Community Trust has removed traders' stalls from this space.
Image: Phiri Cawe
Khayelitsha Mall trader Wendy Somlayi is accusing the Khayelitsha Community Trust (KCT) of exclusion, discrimination and harassment.
The owner of a herbal business, Ms Somlayi claims the KCT is pushing her and other traders at the centre away from spaces in which they should be allowed to operate.
However, KCT community liaison officer Mphumzi Mange said Ms Somlayi and many other traders are welcomed in the centre but not in the space used by ambulances, police vehicles and cash-in-transit vehicles.
Ms Somlayi said she had been trading at the centre since 2017.
"As young black business people we are taken for granted here. I entered business with ambition and a belief that as a young township girl I can do this. I wanted to uplift the community and give them healthy herbs and foods. Since I have opened my business I have hired eight full-time staff members. Now I have people telling me not to trade in a space where I was given a concession letter by the City. I am not going anywhere,” said Ms Somlayi.
She said she has been harassed four times by KCT and has opened a criminal case against them at the Lingelethu police station.
“I am prepared to fight this exclusion of black business traders in our own township. This is the biggest trading place where we can all do business,” she said.
She said it was unfortunate that young entrepreneurs are oppressed instead of being supported.
Ms Somlayi said there should be schools to develop young entrepreneurs.
Mr Mange said the City had given Ms Somlayi a concession letter to trade in another space in the centre.
"We are moving traders in that area for safety reasons. It is a gateway; you cannot block that area. Just recently it was chaotic there. Some traders came to put their stalls there. We cannot allow this to happen,” he said.
Mr Mange said new development at the centre would also accommodate traders. "For now we are avoiding the mess.”
Chairperson of the United Khayelitsha Informal Traders Association (UKITA), Thozama Gwente, said it was unfortunate that the matter was not reported to the committee. She called on her members to adhere to rules. “We are aware of the unfortunate incident that involved one of our own. But it is hard for us as an organisation to get involved if you do not involve us. Personally, I advised Ms Somlayi to firstly involve her committee but she taught otherwise. We are open to still advise her.”