Hawkers in South Africa's small urban centres: Planning and policy

Abstract

The development of strategies for the 'appropriate management' of urban growth applies with equal force to small and to large urban centres. In this paper one key aspect in the evolution of appropriate management strategies in South Africa's smaller urban centres is addressed, namely the policy attitudes and practices towards hawkers. Against a background review of the international experience of changing attitudes towards street traders, empirical material is presented on local policies and planning regarding hawkers in a cross-section of South Africa's smaller urban centres. Although the overall picture is dominated by the reluctance of urban authorities to innovate accommodationist planning, some interesting exceptions are noted.

The changing nature of informal street trading in post-apartheid South Africa

“…By 1984 there was a total council ban on hawking in the city centre, and even purchasing from hawkers was made a punishable offence. This, combined with national protest action resulted in a crippling black consumer boycott of white businesses in 1985 (Hart and Rogerson 1989a). However, local conflict and changes in national policy have witnessed dramatic changes in the stance adopted by the council to the traders, and the increased prevalence of the activity on the city's streets since then.…”

“…Informal trading in East London has proved to be remarkably resilient in the face of many attempts to restrict and contain it by legislation and strict enforcement (Hart and Rogerson 1989a). This resilience is enhanced by such features as low overheads, flexibility of operation, the dedication of individual traders, and most importantly, the lack of alternative options for most informal traders.…”

“…As the CBD is the focus of transport systems and economic activity within the city, its attraction to informal traders is self-apparent, with the number of traders within it increasing significantly since 1991. Historically, informal trading in East London has long been a source of conflict and debate in the city (Hart and Rogerson 1989a). By 1984 there was a total council ban on hawking in the city centre, and even purchasing from hawkers was made a punishable offence.…”

“…Informal traders are perceived as being unsightly, a significant health and safety hazard, and an inappropriate element within an orderly urban environment (Hart and Rogerson 1989a). These attributes, combined with the policies of apartheid, resulted in the widespread repression of informal trading in the CBDs of South African cities in the past (Hart and Rogerson 1989b).…”

The struggles for survival of street traders in Umtata, Transkei, 1980?89

“…Bromley 1978). Recent research on Black street traders operating in the urban areas of 'white' South Africa disclosed that they continue to face major constraints despite reformist attempts during the 1980s to introduce more favourable legislative conditions for trading (Dewar and Watson 1981;Rogerson and Hart 1988;1989;Hart and Rogerson 1989a;1989b). Building upon this literature, the aim in this paper is to examine the struggles of communities of Black hawkers in Umtata, capital city and largest urban centre of Transkei.…”