http://www.dailynews.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4070200

Evicted informal traders seek legal redress

October 08, 2007 Edition 1

Bongani Mthembu

A legal showdown is looming between the eThekwini Municipality and 1 200 informal traders kicked out of a Durban flea market.

The traders were evicted from the Soldiers Way Carbin Market apparently because a structure for the 2010 Soccer World Cup is being put up.

This has, however, been denied by city fathers, who said that a study was still being conducted to establish what could be done with the site.

Divendren Pather, of Global Village, the company that represents the traders, said yesterday he would take the matter to court, arguing that council was supposed to provide an alternative site for the traders.

“We have made numerous attempts to work with the city to find a resolution. We were given one month’s notice to vacate the site – we believe that was a very short period of time,” he said.

Mayor Obed Mlaba said re-moval of the informal traders was part of council’s revitalisation plan before 2010.

“It is happening everywhere. We have cleaned many areas in the city and also townships. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to clean up areas that have become unsavoury. It has also come to our attention that people steal and sell goods in the same market, which is few minutes away from the city hall,” said Mlaba.

Municipal manager Mike Sutcliffe said that council had terminated the short-term ten-ancy agreements it entered with a private company, First Park (Pty) Ltd, which entered into arrangements with Global Village.

He said that the site had always been earmarked for major developments, including government offices, and retail and commercial establishments. It is also being used primarily for parking at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre during exhibitions.