Most businesses have decided to up their game to offer the influx of tourists expected to flock SA the best service. However, informal traders seem to be getting the raw end of the stick as the very event which many are happy about seems to be interfering with their business. During an event organised by Gender Links in Johannesburg, South Africa, two informal traders, gave testimonies that the clean-up, renovations and extension of stadiums has had negative effects on their business and family life. Sophie Thlagane, who is the Chairperson Soccer City Hawkers Association told the gathering that they continue to endure hard times, and that preparations for 2010 seem to be affecting their business in a very negatively way. She said from the time she remembers she and other informal traders have been selling by the Soccer City Stadium, formely FNB stadium, but have since been chased away from the stadium. Thlagane, related that most of them are single mothers who have been relying on their trade to feed their children and pay their school fees, but now they are suffering because they were forcibly removed by law enforcement authorities from their place of operation.
"We are human beings just like you. We are single mothers trying to make a living for our children," the distressed Thlagane said with disappointment in her voice, she said they have since been informed that only FIFA certified traders would be allowed to trade at the stadium, which means there wont be any place for these informal traders.
