Small shop owners in Kokstad have expressed frustration with the GKM municipality’s alleged failure to address their concerns and provide timely support. Despite their willingness to comply with municipal bylaws, many entrepreneurs claim they have faced significant challenges in obtaining trading licenses.
When this publication was speaking with some business owners, they reported paying for licenses but only receiving receipts, without the actual certificates. “This issue has persisted for at least two years, despite national calls for small businesses to comply with municipal regulations,” said the Kokstad small business owner. Additionally, Spaza shop owners and hawkers have raised concerns about the lack of access to water, a essential resource for their businesses. They alleged that repeated requests to the Harry Gwala municipal offices have been ignored, forcing them to find alternative solutions to access water. The small business owners are calling for the GKM municipality to take their concerns seriously and provide the necessary support to ensure their businesses can operate effectively.
Furthermore, business owners complained about vandalism and theft by individuals living on the streets (Amaphara). These incidents include stolen goods, damaged water meters, and vandalized properties. One business owner expressed concerns about the safety of her building, citing instances of break-ins and theft. She alleged that the perpetrators seem to be protected by the municipality or the law, making it difficult for her to take action. “To add insult to injury, when inspectors visit the premises, they focus on minor infractions, such as the lack of air conditioning, rather than addressing the more pressing safety concerns,” said the business owner. Business owners feel that they are being held accountable for damages caused by vandalism, which they have reported to the authorities without receiving adequate assistance
Moreover, some small business owners have expressed frustration and disappointment with the municipality’s treatment on them. As South African citizens, they feel that their concerns and compliance efforts are being disregarded. These entrepreneurs emphasized their willingness to follow all necessary steps to meet municipal bylaws and provide quality services to their customers. However, they feel targeted by the municipality’s inspection and enforcement efforts.
One issue that has raised concerns is food poisoning. Small business owners argue that they are not entirely responsible for this issue, as they source products from large suppliers. They question why the municipality focuses on inspecting small shops, confiscating expired or near-expired products, while neglecting to inspect the big suppliers such as Ohlanga and Develand. The owners feel unfairly targeted, knowing that almost all small shops in town source products from the same large retailers. They urge the municipality to inspect these big suppliers, rather than solely focusing on small businesses.
They claim that they have come forward to address concerns about selling expired products. They claim that they have approached big suppliers, such as Ohlanga about receiving nearly expired or expired products. However, the suppliers shifted the responsibility to the business owners, stating that it is their duty to check the expiry dates.
The owners argue that while they strive to provide quality products, they cannot afford to stock up on expensive items from reputable retailers. Despite this, they emphasize that they do not intentionally sell expired products and make efforts to check expiry dates and return expired items to suppliers. Their primary concern is that authorities should inspect big suppliers rather than targeting small businesses. They appreciate the recent extension allowing Spaza shop owners to register and comply with regulations. By speaking out, these business owners aim to clear their names and highlight the challenges they face in sourcing affordable, quality products.
The means to get a comment from the responsible department at GKM went to vain.
