Informal traders in Durban, who were severely affected by the mid-July unrest, say they will engage with city officials on how best they can be assisted so they can continue to contribute to the economy.
According to the eThekwini Municipality, informal traders’ sector contributes over eight billion rand which translates to more than nine percent of the city’s Gross Domestic Product.
The sector is also a major provider of employment, goods, and services for lower-income groups.
“Ethekwini municipal mayor Mxolisi Kaunda will host an informal traders’ indaba to outline strategies to transform the city’s informal economy. He wants it to be an efficient economy. He will also unpack plans to upgrade the infrastructure of informal traders in eThekwini following the civil unrest that crippled the sector,” says eThekwini Mayoral Spokesperson Mluleki Mntungwa.
Economic impact of July unrest
The cost of the unrest that rocked Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in July is still being tallied.
A number of malls and factories were set alight during the violence.
Thousands of jobs were affected with workers in affected sectors either losing the jobs or being put on reduced income.
Economic cost of July unrest:
