Informal traders in Mitchells Plain Town Centre satisfied with upgrades
14 March 2016
Councillor Bloor visited the Mitchells Plain Town Centre on Thursday, 10 March 2016 to engage with informal traders in the area and to evaluate the work done by the City’s Economic Development Department.
Mitchells Plain Town Centre upgrades
The City has invested R180 million to upgrade the town centre and the trading plan consists of 1 107 trading sites, six markets, 52 kiosks at the public transport interchange, and a fish market. The upgrade includes provision of new road infrastructure, public buildings, CCTV cameras, a pedestrian bridge, taxi rank facilities, a new bus terminus, three public transport interchanges, informal trading market facilities and informal trading infrastructure, as well as public space improvements, landscaping and integration of the different spatial areas within the CBD. The final phase of the link road between the Promenade and Town Centre is under way.
In addition, R35 million has been spent on an upgrade to the greater area of the Mitchells Plain CBD. Trader canopies have been provided, the main market roof has been replaced, and all the brick paving throughout the Town Centre (squares, walkways and markets) has been replaced. The CBD upgrade would not have been possible without the development of the trading plan and having worked in close collaboration with the trader leadership and individual trading community.
Public reception
Overall, the majority of the traders have expressed their happiness and appreciation for the facilities provided, which allow them the opportunity to benefit from economic activities. Each day 70 000 commuters make use of public transport in and around the Mitchells Plain Town Centre and there are over 1 000 informal trading bays – the largest number of trading bays in one concentrated space in the city.
‘The City, the traders and trader associations continue to nurture the good working relationship that was forged. This unity was most evident through the community engagement and design process where agreement was reached between five trader associations and the City. This was a huge step in the right direction after years of conflict between associations and with the City,’ said Councillor Bloor.
While many challenges were experienced at first, the ongoing engagement between all stakeholders has resulted in many successes, including the formation of the Mitchells Plain United Hawkers Forum (MPUHF) which represents approximately 1 000 traders, and the establishment of a steering committee chaired jointly by the formal and informal business sectors. The MPUHF negotiated and engaged with the City to develop an informal trading plan and the upgrade plan proved to be a vital part of the success story for the Mitchells Plain Town Centre.
MURP engagement
The Mitchells Plain Mayoral Urban Regeneration Programme (MURP) is responsible for public engagement and the United Hawkers Forum and the newly formed Hawkers Against Crime are engaging with the City on issues of crime and grime and informal trader storage.
‘A number of traders have requested storage space for their fruit and vegetables as they do not have the means to transport their goods on a daily basis. The Economic Development Department is therefore working with the trader associations to find a workable solution to this challenge. We have acknowledged the need for an informal trader storage facility and space has been identified. Together with the Mitchells Plain MURP, we will facilitate the process to bring this to fruition,’ said Councillor Bloor.
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