She told Mmegi yesterday that there has been confusion about a letter that the ministry wrote to councils two weeks ago to hold meetings with hawkers/vendors over the safety of the areas they operate in. She said that the officers misinterpreted the content of the letter and instead confiscated vendors' goods and forced them out of their trading places. "Our main concern is public safety because most of these vendors operate along busy roads, sometimes causing crowding and using gas, which can be dangerous to road users especially motorists," Tshireletso explained. She said local authorities must start taking their duty seriously by making sure that lawlessness is prevented before it spreads.
Recently, there have been reports of harassment of street vendors by council employees backed by police in Maun, Mogoditshane and Ramotswa. Some of the affected vendors have said the officers were uncooperative and took their goods away without bothering to listen to them. The officers have forcibly removed vendors from their trading area in front of Choppies along the Molepolole Road in Mogoditshane. Another group of vendors on the same road, who ply their trade in front of SupaSave Stores, were cautioned and told on Sunday not to come back or they would be charged with illegal trading. The vendors said the warning was issued despite the fact that they showed the officers their trading licences.
