CITICHAT 32/99 - September 30 1999
Informal Trading
Since writing about the 'horde of hawkers' last week pouring out of their new Marshall Street storage base, I see we now have a dedicated traffic lane in that street at peak hours to separate vehicular traffic and trolley traffic. We must be the only country in the world to have had to create such a facility. Unfortunately, the problem isn't resolved. Rissik Street which is one of our major roads into and through the city going north is the next route for the trolley brigade after leaving Marshall. The fact that it is one way north doesn't seem to be of much interest to the hawkers, last evening on the way home through the city I turned from Fox into Rissik and almost collided with two southbound trolleys abreast of each other in the centre of two lanes. The hawkers couldn't see what was coming their trolleys were packed so high. One report we received advises that the same thing is happening in Eloff Street, only this time it is south bound traffic that is being severely disrupted as the trolley brigade move northwards against the flow. The report states that bus drivers are forced to veer across the road to avoid collisions. Two hawkers evidently had their trolleys tip over in a 'race' for their sites, causing a major traffic jam.
Whilst the Council must obviously take steps to address the immediate issue, the medium term plan is of course to basically do away with all informal trading activity on the pavements of the city. The first phase of this is progress in Braamfontein where all street traders were served notice by the Council to move out of the area or risk confiscation of goods. This is now happening but, as usual, the media gives great prominence to the minority who are screaming that rights are being infringed. As one might expect they are also using the opportunity to bring the whole racial issue into play. It is the rich 'white' property and shop owners who have forced this on the Council at the expense of the poor 'black' traders who, after all, are merely trying to scrape together a living. The other ploy being spld to the media is "we were never consulted." Both of these attitudes are pure, unmitigated drivel. The Hawker Association which is making all the noise was invited to attend all the workshops to discuss the new approach and didn't attend. This is exactly the approach that we have seen happen in many aspects of "grass roots negotiation" over the past five/ten years. If you aren't at the discussions or workshops you can say that you weren't 'consulted', if you attend, then you can't. I would have hoped that we would have matured somewhat over the past few years, but it doesn't appear so.
An excellent research report by the Urban Market Development Joint Venture commissioned by the Inner City Office and whose recommendations were approved by the Inner City Committee earlier this year places the informal trading issue into perspective. In the introduction to their Business Plan they summarise my short historical overview of last week with the following comment; "Johannesburg, the largest and richest city, attracted the greatest number of hawkers. It also attracted, particularly after the election, a more sophisticated trader from countries to the north and west where there are long established cultures of market trade and urban living. The resultant congestion on the streets, the over trading of a few items and the sale of illicit goods, has hurt the formal trade of the city. Hawking also creates an environment that makes for easy pickings for thieves; both the hawkers stock and customer's possessions."
The answer lies in creating market places where traders can not only trade under better conditions than being exposed on the streets and creating visual mayhem, but where they and their businesses can develop, where they can obtain ownership in the market, develop an asset base, and move beyond subsistence existence which, I suspect, is the current situation for a majority of traders. This is the essence of what is being done. Not clearing the streets of poor people trying to make a living but reclaiming the streets of the city in a way that will provide opportunities for both formal and informal trade.
The damage to the city through the totally unmanaged street trading together with other issues we are trying to address, can be seen in the horrific decline in values. A recent example was the sale of the Carlton Centre but a sale that has subsequently taken place of another of the city hotels, not that it has been trading as such for some time, emphasises the point. The current valuation is R93 million, the replacement value, R185 million. The property, to be converted to housing, was sold for R2.5 million! Far more is being lost in the city than can ever be compensated for by street trading.
The Report referred to above explains the approach being adopted; " The programme will invite other initiatives from amongst hawker, community and business entities, so that the programme can also respond to local demand, specialist knowledge and enterprise, and to other opportunities. As hawkers learn about the importance of synergy between the enterprises within a market, they as members and owners, will look to invite in others who will bring that needed variety or character.
The (much abused) xenophobia against the "African" trader as competitor can be replaced by a hawker/market member/owner search for the success of markets as "places." Within the atmosphere of personal growth and of enterprise growth, the African trader and the bookshop from Sandton that must return to the city through the markets, will become desirable business partners. The Trade Management programme forms an integrated organisation, management and finance system that draws on a variety of public, private and hawker/trader partners. Apart from building and running the markets, the programme contains a richly woven Member and Enterprise Development Programme to assist the hawkers to become successful entrepreneurs, market members and, by degree, owners and increasingly important future investors and property owners.
The markets are seen as combining trade, production, services, storage, public bath-house, housing, recreational and community components, where demanded and feasible. They may be likened to a small business persons "club", a launching pad for a new mercantile class."
Instead of red herrings and stimulating chaos, the responsible informal trader association should be seeing how they can be involved in the process that is going to lead to the empowerment of their members, or is it actually that aspect that is challenging them?
The first market is under construction in Yeoville and the clever design by Urban Solutions will prove to be a model that will be followed by many of our towns and cities.
Thursday, September 30, 1999
Informal Trading Citichat 30 September 1999
CITICHAT 32/99 - September 30 1999
Informal Trading
Since writing about the 'horde of hawkers' last week pouring out of their new Marshall Street storage base, I see we now have a dedicated traffic lane in that street at peak hours to separate vehicular traffic and trolley traffic. We must be the only country in the world to have had to create such a facility. Unfortunately, the problem isn't resolved. Rissik Street which is one of our major roads into and through the city going north is the next route for the trolley brigade after leaving Marshall. The fact that it is one way north doesn't seem to be of much interest to the hawkers, last evening on the way home through the city I turned from Fox into Rissik and almost collided with two southbound trolleys abreast of each other in the centre of two lanes. The hawkers couldn't see what was coming their trolleys were packed so high. One report we received advises that the same thing is happening in Eloff Street, only this time it is south bound traffic that is being severely disrupted as the trolley brigade move northwards against the flow. The report states that bus drivers are forced to veer across the road to avoid collisions. Two hawkers evidently had their trolleys tip over in a 'race' for their sites, causing a major traffic jam.
Whilst the Council must obviously take steps to address the immediate issue, the medium term plan is of course to basically do away with all informal trading activity on the pavements of the city. The first phase of this is progress in Braamfontein where all street traders were served notice by the Council to move out of the area or risk confiscation of goods. This is now happening but, as usual, the media gives great prominence to the minority who are screaming that rights are being infringed. As one might expect they are also using the opportunity to bring the whole racial issue into play. It is the rich 'white' property and shop owners who have forced this on the Council at the expense of the poor 'black' traders who, after all, are merely trying to scrape together a living. The other ploy being spld to the media is "we were never consulted." Both of these attitudes are pure, unmitigated drivel. The Hawker Association which is making all the noise was invited to attend all the workshops to discuss the new approach and didn't attend. This is exactly the approach that we have seen happen in many aspects of "grass roots negotiation" over the past five/ten years. If you aren't at the discussions or workshops you can say that you weren't 'consulted', if you attend, then you can't. I would have hoped that we would have matured somewhat over the past few years, but it doesn't appear so.
An excellent research report by the Urban Market Development Joint Venture commissioned by the Inner City Office and whose recommendations were approved by the Inner City Committee earlier this year places the informal trading issue into perspective. In the introduction to their Business Plan they summarise my short historical overview of last week with the following comment; "Johannesburg, the largest and richest city, attracted the greatest number of hawkers. It also attracted, particularly after the election, a more sophisticated trader from countries to the north and west where there are long established cultures of market trade and urban living. The resultant congestion on the streets, the over trading of a few items and the sale of illicit goods, has hurt the formal trade of the city. Hawking also creates an environment that makes for easy pickings for thieves; both the hawkers stock and customer's possessions."
The answer lies in creating market places where traders can not only trade under better conditions than being exposed on the streets and creating visual mayhem, but where they and their businesses can develop, where they can obtain ownership in the market, develop an asset base, and move beyond subsistence existence which, I suspect, is the current situation for a majority of traders. This is the essence of what is being done. Not clearing the streets of poor people trying to make a living but reclaiming the streets of the city in a way that will provide opportunities for both formal and informal trade.
The damage to the city through the totally unmanaged street trading together with other issues we are trying to address, can be seen in the horrific decline in values. A recent example was the sale of the Carlton Centre but a sale that has subsequently taken place of another of the city hotels, not that it has been trading as such for some time, emphasises the point. The current valuation is R93 million, the replacement value, R185 million. The property, to be converted to housing, was sold for R2.5 million! Far more is being lost in the city than can ever be compensated for by street trading.
The Report referred to above explains the approach being adopted; " The programme will invite other initiatives from amongst hawker, community and business entities, so that the programme can also respond to local demand, specialist knowledge and enterprise, and to other opportunities. As hawkers learn about the importance of synergy between the enterprises within a market, they as members and owners, will look to invite in others who will bring that needed variety or character.
The (much abused) xenophobia against the "African" trader as competitor can be replaced by a hawker/market member/owner search for the success of markets as "places." Within the atmosphere of personal growth and of enterprise growth, the African trader and the bookshop from Sandton that must return to the city through the markets, will become desirable business partners. The Trade Management programme forms an integrated organisation, management and finance system that draws on a variety of public, private and hawker/trader partners. Apart from building and running the markets, the programme contains a richly woven Member and Enterprise Development Programme to assist the hawkers to become successful entrepreneurs, market members and, by degree, owners and increasingly important future investors and property owners.
The markets are seen as combining trade, production, services, storage, public bath-house, housing, recreational and community components, where demanded and feasible. They may be likened to a small business persons "club", a launching pad for a new mercantile class."
Instead of red herrings and stimulating chaos, the responsible informal trader association should be seeing how they can be involved in the process that is going to lead to the empowerment of their members, or is it actually that aspect that is challenging them?
The first market is under construction in Yeoville and the clever design by Urban Solutions will prove to be a model that will be followed by many of our towns and cities.
Informal Trading
Since writing about the 'horde of hawkers' last week pouring out of their new Marshall Street storage base, I see we now have a dedicated traffic lane in that street at peak hours to separate vehicular traffic and trolley traffic. We must be the only country in the world to have had to create such a facility. Unfortunately, the problem isn't resolved. Rissik Street which is one of our major roads into and through the city going north is the next route for the trolley brigade after leaving Marshall. The fact that it is one way north doesn't seem to be of much interest to the hawkers, last evening on the way home through the city I turned from Fox into Rissik and almost collided with two southbound trolleys abreast of each other in the centre of two lanes. The hawkers couldn't see what was coming their trolleys were packed so high. One report we received advises that the same thing is happening in Eloff Street, only this time it is south bound traffic that is being severely disrupted as the trolley brigade move northwards against the flow. The report states that bus drivers are forced to veer across the road to avoid collisions. Two hawkers evidently had their trolleys tip over in a 'race' for their sites, causing a major traffic jam.
Whilst the Council must obviously take steps to address the immediate issue, the medium term plan is of course to basically do away with all informal trading activity on the pavements of the city. The first phase of this is progress in Braamfontein where all street traders were served notice by the Council to move out of the area or risk confiscation of goods. This is now happening but, as usual, the media gives great prominence to the minority who are screaming that rights are being infringed. As one might expect they are also using the opportunity to bring the whole racial issue into play. It is the rich 'white' property and shop owners who have forced this on the Council at the expense of the poor 'black' traders who, after all, are merely trying to scrape together a living. The other ploy being spld to the media is "we were never consulted." Both of these attitudes are pure, unmitigated drivel. The Hawker Association which is making all the noise was invited to attend all the workshops to discuss the new approach and didn't attend. This is exactly the approach that we have seen happen in many aspects of "grass roots negotiation" over the past five/ten years. If you aren't at the discussions or workshops you can say that you weren't 'consulted', if you attend, then you can't. I would have hoped that we would have matured somewhat over the past few years, but it doesn't appear so.
An excellent research report by the Urban Market Development Joint Venture commissioned by the Inner City Office and whose recommendations were approved by the Inner City Committee earlier this year places the informal trading issue into perspective. In the introduction to their Business Plan they summarise my short historical overview of last week with the following comment; "Johannesburg, the largest and richest city, attracted the greatest number of hawkers. It also attracted, particularly after the election, a more sophisticated trader from countries to the north and west where there are long established cultures of market trade and urban living. The resultant congestion on the streets, the over trading of a few items and the sale of illicit goods, has hurt the formal trade of the city. Hawking also creates an environment that makes for easy pickings for thieves; both the hawkers stock and customer's possessions."
The answer lies in creating market places where traders can not only trade under better conditions than being exposed on the streets and creating visual mayhem, but where they and their businesses can develop, where they can obtain ownership in the market, develop an asset base, and move beyond subsistence existence which, I suspect, is the current situation for a majority of traders. This is the essence of what is being done. Not clearing the streets of poor people trying to make a living but reclaiming the streets of the city in a way that will provide opportunities for both formal and informal trade.
The damage to the city through the totally unmanaged street trading together with other issues we are trying to address, can be seen in the horrific decline in values. A recent example was the sale of the Carlton Centre but a sale that has subsequently taken place of another of the city hotels, not that it has been trading as such for some time, emphasises the point. The current valuation is R93 million, the replacement value, R185 million. The property, to be converted to housing, was sold for R2.5 million! Far more is being lost in the city than can ever be compensated for by street trading.
The Report referred to above explains the approach being adopted; " The programme will invite other initiatives from amongst hawker, community and business entities, so that the programme can also respond to local demand, specialist knowledge and enterprise, and to other opportunities. As hawkers learn about the importance of synergy between the enterprises within a market, they as members and owners, will look to invite in others who will bring that needed variety or character.
The (much abused) xenophobia against the "African" trader as competitor can be replaced by a hawker/market member/owner search for the success of markets as "places." Within the atmosphere of personal growth and of enterprise growth, the African trader and the bookshop from Sandton that must return to the city through the markets, will become desirable business partners. The Trade Management programme forms an integrated organisation, management and finance system that draws on a variety of public, private and hawker/trader partners. Apart from building and running the markets, the programme contains a richly woven Member and Enterprise Development Programme to assist the hawkers to become successful entrepreneurs, market members and, by degree, owners and increasingly important future investors and property owners.
The markets are seen as combining trade, production, services, storage, public bath-house, housing, recreational and community components, where demanded and feasible. They may be likened to a small business persons "club", a launching pad for a new mercantile class."
Instead of red herrings and stimulating chaos, the responsible informal trader association should be seeing how they can be involved in the process that is going to lead to the empowerment of their members, or is it actually that aspect that is challenging them?
The first market is under construction in Yeoville and the clever design by Urban Solutions will prove to be a model that will be followed by many of our towns and cities.
Friday, September 10, 1999
Tourism Citichat 10 September 1999
CITICHAT No 30/99 – 10 September 1999
Tourism
The last two Citichats have included "Ten Myths about Downtown Revitalisation" which was originally published in Downtown Idea Exchange, one of a number of city related publications we receive. I did mention this in both Citichats but the publishers have drawn to my attention, quite correctly, that the agreement between them and the CJP requires us to state the following: "Reprinted with permission of the publisher - Downtown Idea Exchange; 215 Park Avenue South; Suite 1301; New York; NY 10003, USA. Telephone (212)228-0246 Fax (212)228-0376
e-mail: info@alexcommgrp.com " My apologies!
This morning's Business Day, Friday September 17, runs a story on the Government's tourism action plan. This is in the form of a joint venture between public and private sector bodies to promote South Africa internationally as a tourist destination.
My wife and I had to attend a Denominational Synod in Pinetown last week and she suggested that instead of driving or flying, we go by train. It would give us a much overdue opportunity to relax together and she thought it might be quite romantic for an old man like me. So we booked on the Trans Natal which leaves Johannesburg at 18.30 and arrives the next morning in Durban at 08h00. When we boarded the train we received our first shock. The coupe we had been allocated was absolutely filthy and didn't appear to have been cleaned for aeons. The very pleasant conductor moved us to an empty four berth compartment which was in far better shape and less cramped but still decidely grubby. Next shock was supper - the dining car was a "BJ's" which offered only typical fast-food fare, rather ethnic, meat and pap. wors and pap, etc. My request for a wine list was answered by an invitation to look through the bar's fridge to see if I could actually find a bottle of dry white wine. I eventually found a bottle of off dry. The also very pleasant barman told us that we were the first people ever to order wine on that train which was why they didn't carry an ice bucket! I ended up having to open the bottle myself as our equally very pleasant, waiter had never used a corkscrew before!
Now I'm sure you're not interested in the Fraser family travels but why I'm relating this story to you is because of the story on tourism action in today's paper as referred to earlier. Having travelled by train in the UK, Europe and the United States,if we as a country are supposed to have tourism (which should include internal tourism as well as from outside the country) as one of our top priorities. I shudder to think of any tourist being exposed to South African train travel (outside of the Blue Train) if this is what we offer. The people were all very nice but the experience was a disaster. We flew back!
To add insult to injury one Sunday paper, under a caption of; "COME TO SOUTH AFRICA - AND SLEEP WITH SOMEONE'S WIFE" reports on a Cape Town businessman's initiative to bring European 'swingers' to South Africa to 'swing' with local couples. The report advised that our National Tourist Agency, Satour, one of the partners in the Government's tourism action plan, applauded the proposal as one which would encourage tourism and an opportunity for foreigners to enjoy our alternative life styles. Satour is reported as having said it is such a good idea that it has resolved to begin researching the market itself! All I can say is I hope they make them all travel by train!
This brings me to the research we have been doing into promoting Gandhi Square onto the tourist itinerary for the city. We found that the Tourist associations were unable to assist us in providing lists of tour operators so we had to do a search for ourselves. We eventually traced 16 operators whose reaction to the Gandhi story ranged from great interest and excitement to total indifference "we do not recommend that tourists go to the city!". It appears generally that a high percentage of local tour guides are simply driving visitors through the city on the way to Soweto. An article I was sent which appeared in an Australian publication on the 18th July this year confirms this. Under the by-line "Postcard from Johannesburg" the writer says; "I was a bit apprehensive going into Soweto, and Wonga, my driver, did nothing to settle my nerves. He was more scared than me, but it wasn't Soweto he was worried about. He feared central Johannesburg, which you might have thought was a war zone from his reaction. We drove from my hotel in safe, upmarket Sandton, to the central city to meet other people going on the Soweto tour and poor Wonga was in a state. "You drive through here with your doors locked, night and day," he said, "They will kill you and take your van" The same Satour who is heading our private/public tourism thrust also actively instructs visitors not to come to the city, yet is investing in research into how "alternative sexual behaviour" can be a drawcard to South Africa.
Well, its no good moaning, you can only deal with this sort of thing by doing something positive to change perceptions. So we will be opening a tourist office on Gandhi Square which will offer the Gandhi Johannesburg Story as well as some local art and other fun things ("I survived Jo'burg City" tee shirts!) We are arranging a tourist bus parking area and the Square is protected 24 hours a day by our security officers so we will be actively promoting tourism to the inner city. We hope to be opening at the end of October. Watch this space.
Tourism
The last two Citichats have included "Ten Myths about Downtown Revitalisation" which was originally published in Downtown Idea Exchange, one of a number of city related publications we receive. I did mention this in both Citichats but the publishers have drawn to my attention, quite correctly, that the agreement between them and the CJP requires us to state the following: "Reprinted with permission of the publisher - Downtown Idea Exchange; 215 Park Avenue South; Suite 1301; New York; NY 10003, USA. Telephone (212)228-0246 Fax (212)228-0376
e-mail: info@alexcommgrp.com " My apologies!
This morning's Business Day, Friday September 17, runs a story on the Government's tourism action plan. This is in the form of a joint venture between public and private sector bodies to promote South Africa internationally as a tourist destination.
My wife and I had to attend a Denominational Synod in Pinetown last week and she suggested that instead of driving or flying, we go by train. It would give us a much overdue opportunity to relax together and she thought it might be quite romantic for an old man like me. So we booked on the Trans Natal which leaves Johannesburg at 18.30 and arrives the next morning in Durban at 08h00. When we boarded the train we received our first shock. The coupe we had been allocated was absolutely filthy and didn't appear to have been cleaned for aeons. The very pleasant conductor moved us to an empty four berth compartment which was in far better shape and less cramped but still decidely grubby. Next shock was supper - the dining car was a "BJ's" which offered only typical fast-food fare, rather ethnic, meat and pap. wors and pap, etc. My request for a wine list was answered by an invitation to look through the bar's fridge to see if I could actually find a bottle of dry white wine. I eventually found a bottle of off dry. The also very pleasant barman told us that we were the first people ever to order wine on that train which was why they didn't carry an ice bucket! I ended up having to open the bottle myself as our equally very pleasant, waiter had never used a corkscrew before!
Now I'm sure you're not interested in the Fraser family travels but why I'm relating this story to you is because of the story on tourism action in today's paper as referred to earlier. Having travelled by train in the UK, Europe and the United States,if we as a country are supposed to have tourism (which should include internal tourism as well as from outside the country) as one of our top priorities. I shudder to think of any tourist being exposed to South African train travel (outside of the Blue Train) if this is what we offer. The people were all very nice but the experience was a disaster. We flew back!
To add insult to injury one Sunday paper, under a caption of; "COME TO SOUTH AFRICA - AND SLEEP WITH SOMEONE'S WIFE" reports on a Cape Town businessman's initiative to bring European 'swingers' to South Africa to 'swing' with local couples. The report advised that our National Tourist Agency, Satour, one of the partners in the Government's tourism action plan, applauded the proposal as one which would encourage tourism and an opportunity for foreigners to enjoy our alternative life styles. Satour is reported as having said it is such a good idea that it has resolved to begin researching the market itself! All I can say is I hope they make them all travel by train!
This brings me to the research we have been doing into promoting Gandhi Square onto the tourist itinerary for the city. We found that the Tourist associations were unable to assist us in providing lists of tour operators so we had to do a search for ourselves. We eventually traced 16 operators whose reaction to the Gandhi story ranged from great interest and excitement to total indifference "we do not recommend that tourists go to the city!". It appears generally that a high percentage of local tour guides are simply driving visitors through the city on the way to Soweto. An article I was sent which appeared in an Australian publication on the 18th July this year confirms this. Under the by-line "Postcard from Johannesburg" the writer says; "I was a bit apprehensive going into Soweto, and Wonga, my driver, did nothing to settle my nerves. He was more scared than me, but it wasn't Soweto he was worried about. He feared central Johannesburg, which you might have thought was a war zone from his reaction. We drove from my hotel in safe, upmarket Sandton, to the central city to meet other people going on the Soweto tour and poor Wonga was in a state. "You drive through here with your doors locked, night and day," he said, "They will kill you and take your van" The same Satour who is heading our private/public tourism thrust also actively instructs visitors not to come to the city, yet is investing in research into how "alternative sexual behaviour" can be a drawcard to South Africa.
Well, its no good moaning, you can only deal with this sort of thing by doing something positive to change perceptions. So we will be opening a tourist office on Gandhi Square which will offer the Gandhi Johannesburg Story as well as some local art and other fun things ("I survived Jo'burg City" tee shirts!) We are arranging a tourist bus parking area and the Square is protected 24 hours a day by our security officers so we will be actively promoting tourism to the inner city. We hope to be opening at the end of October. Watch this space.
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