Parliament, Tuesday, 21 April 2020 – The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Economic and Small Business Development, Mr Mandla Rayi has said registration of informal traders should continue indefinitely and beyond the lockdown.
Mr Rayi called on the Department of Small Business Development, and local municipalities to assist traders with registration so that they could access the lockdown benefits that the government has made available.
“The committee is concerned that traders in the informal sector are unable to access the benefits as they are not registered, but also they are unable to trade during the lockdown.”
Furthermore, Mr Rayi said: “The sector is the backbone of the economy and is really struggling. South Africa is on an extended lockdown as a result of the infectious corona virus and government announced various interventions to help sustain businesses across sectors.”
“General regulations had been implemented to limit movement, and as such trading has been curtailed. Informal traders are not allowed, in fact are unable, to trade during lockdown. Municipalities should really come on board and assist informal traders and spaza shops with registration for the purpose of accessing lockdown benefits, and long-term trading beyond COVID-19,” added Mr Ray.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND INDUSTRY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM AND EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR MR MANDLA RAYI.
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Name: Sibongile Maputi (Mr)
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Email: smaputi@parliament.gov.za
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