GCC mayor saves impoverished vendors
Baboki Kayawe | Friday June 17, 2016 14:44
Facing the leading global industrial company, Thomas Sekole, 54 and his partner Matshidiso Ditshwele 76, who reside in Old Naledi where they have rented out a shack for P100 per month, eke out a living from selling an assortment of ready-made indigenous medicinal concoctions and herbs.
Their shack of trade is very untidy. The two have lost hope in life as hardships they say, have followed them like their own shadows throughout existence.
Their situation made waves on social media this week with sympathising users claiming the couple resides in the tiny shack, and appealed for intervention.
“No, we don’t sleep here. We are in business of traditional herbs; we discovered that there is less competition here hence we chose this spot,” Sekole explained.
“At times when the old woman is tired and very fatigued she sleeps here during the day, that is why people assume we live here,” he said.
Mmegi visited the couple Thursday afternoon after multitudes took to Facebook to discuss “the couple’s dire need”. The team caught up with Gaborone mayor Thutlwe who vowed to ensure the duo is not forcibly removed from this trading space.
A proponent of the informal sector, as the youthful mayor described himself, committed to provide the couple with a table to display their stuff as opposed to the rickety structure they have been using.
“I came here to assess their situation and find the best way possible to assist them. I really have to protect street vendors and see to it that they stay in trade in order for them to make a living,” he said.
“The first step would be to find a better display table so that they do away with this structure to avoid eviction by the Council. Such structures make the city untidy, ” he added.
The mayor was yet to inform himself whether bye-law authorities have seen the structure yet. He explained that it usually took 14 days for street vendors trading in shacks such as this one to be evicted.
“I personally believe in assisting street vendors hence I feel obliged to help them as fast as I can so that they are not moved from here,” said the concerned Thutlwe.
In addition to this situation, the couple has for the past five months failed to foot its rental bill. Consequently, they live under fear of being thrown out of their Old Naledi makeshift rented house.
“We cannot afford to pay the landlord. We have since resorted to sneaking in and out at dark to avoid confrontation since the owner of the place has threatened to throw us out,” said Sekole.
As if that was not enough, Ditshwele, a pensioner, has not received her old age pension for the last seven months. This has deteriorated the couple’s destitution because business is at its lowest, and on many occasions spend the day without eating.
“We are really in need. We have struggled to have a meal since my wife started having issues with her old age pension. The issue is with South East District Council since she registered in Ramotswa,” Sekole added.
Thutlwe promised to follow up with the South East District Council chairman to understand the cause of the delay with the pensioners’ money.
“I will also get in touch with their landlord to clear their credit,” he said.
The couple claims to have taken to the streets of Game City a decade ago after realising Game City mall, unlike others in the capital, was not infiltrated by traditional medicine vendors. However, the business only does well on month ends, the couple said.
“Throughout the month we really struggle to have anything to eat,” Sekole complained.
The two wish to have proper shelter especially in Ramotswa where the old woman has an undeveloped plot.
“Our greatest dream is to have a proper house. I hope and pray that someone may come to this old woman’s aid and provide her good shelter because she is childless,” Sekole appealed for help.