04 Dec 2017

All illegal structures are to be removed with immediate effect at the Mahalapye bus rank.

This was said by chief bye-law enforcement technician, Mr Kebuamotse Kebuamotse during Mahalapye Sub-district council meeting recently.

Mr Kebuamotse said hawkers and street vendors were advised to use temporary movable structures, which they could carry after trading and leave the place clean as per the Bye-law 13 of hawking and street vending bye-law.

He noted that also there should be no cooking at the bus rank.

Mr Kebuamotse explained that Mahalapye bus rank was currently operating all cardinal points connecting Gaborone, Francistown, Tswapong and Shoshong areas and had about 150 illegal hawkers and street vendors.

He noted that 70 per cent trade without hawker’s licence while 30 per cent had one.

He said about 30 barbershops operate without operational certificate.

Mr Kebuamotse said the bus rank outlook was not presentable as  traders had allocated themselves space and erected illegal structures.

Also, he said the bus rank had become a harbouring place for criminals and selling of illegal substances such as marijuana.

Further, he noted that they had observed that the mushrooming of structures disfigure the beauty of the CBD and poses danger to bus rank users, obstruct the movement of both pedestrians, taxis and buses.

Mr Kebuamotse said other traders had since started using gas stoves, which may pose danger to bus rank users, and some use the illegal structures as toilets at night.

Meawnhile, Mr Kebuamotse said they were not stopping the 150 traders from trading at the bus rank but want them to use temporary movable structures and to make their working environment clean, safe and secure.

He said after removing all illegal structures they would work on normalising the situation and help those without licenses to acquire them.

Mr Kebuamotse explained that they had consulted with them and  had agreed to comply at a meeting last month.ENDS