“On a good day I make more than R200. However, business has been slow these last few days and I only managed to make between R80 and R100. This money will now be non-existent.”
STREET vendors in Kimberley pointed out that their source of income will be taken away when the 21-day lockdown comes into effect at midnight on Thursday.
This follows after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that a nationwide lockdown will be effected from March 26 until April 16.
Ramaphosa made this announcement on Monday evening, stating that the increasing number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country was the reason to impose the lockdown. He said it was being implemented to curb the spread of the virus.
A street vendor, who sells loose cigarettes, fish, eggs and other snacks at the entrance of the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court, when asked about her plans to make money, said she was unaware of the looming lockdown.
“I did not know that people have been ordered to stay indoors from Friday. I have noticed that not many people are coming to the court or to buy from me. I thought that business was just slow. I would have come here on Friday and found that here is no one around,” she said.
She added that she had no alternative plans on how to earn an income during the three-week lockdown.
“Most of my clients are usually from court. However, if nobody comes to work then it means I will have no income. Plus, if people are not allowed to go out of the house, then it will also be problematic for me. I have no idea how I will survive as I am in the dark about this announcement.”
She said that although the money she makes from her goods might seem little to some, it made a huge difference in her life.
“On a good day I make more than R200. However, business has been slow these last few days and I only managed to make between R80 and R100. This money will now be non-existent.”
A fruit and vegetable vendor said it was heartbreaking that people overlooked street vendors when filling their trolleys at supermarkets.
“The people were all rushing to the stores to shop for the lockdown. Nobody is queuing at the street vendors and stocking up from our produce. We are also concerned about how we will survive these tough times. We sell our produce on the streets and will not be able to continue doing that when people are not allowed to get out of their houses. We also cannot ‘work from home’ as the authorities will not allow us to go around selling our goods. We hope that this lockdown will pass soon and we make it,” he sighed. – Benida Phillips
