10 May 2020

Tuckshop owners in Machana have applauded government for considering them in the supply of COVID-19 relief food baskets. They say the opportunity has helped them grow as small businesses who struggled to make end meet on normal days.

“I have been running this tuckshop for two years and business has been slow because i mostly sell on credit. This time i have been given a tender to supply 15 beneficiaries with groceries and toiletries and this would go a long way in feeding my family and growing the business,” said 43-year old Ms Masego Mokgwathisi.

She said she had been able to sell stock quickly and the fact that the payment comes as a lump sum would help her buy a small truck for the business.

”I have a small delivery van that i use but now i intend to buy a bigger vehicle which will help me implement my mobile tuckshop idea for people in far places such as cattleposts,” she noted.

She noted however, that what could have been an opportunity for big profits was countered by wholesalers and supermarkets who had increased prices since the outbreak of COVID-19. She said as small businesses they quoted their normal prices for government only to find that their suppliers had increased prices. This, she said, resulted in small profits for tuckshop owners.

Additionally ,Ms Mokgwathisi said as essential service providers, they were at risk of contracting COVID-19 due to interaction with different customers. She however, noted that she had hands washing provision for customers and declined to help those who refused to adhere. She said she had revised her operating hours and decided to close earlier than usual to avoid people taking advantage and walking up and down to her tuckshop.

On the other hand,27-year old Ms Bonang Rabi said even though she was grateful for the opportunity to supply food baskets, she was concerned about the mushrooming of new tuckshops in the village. She noted that the increase in number of tuckshops created competition and less profits for old businesses.

“Some of these new businesses belong to people who have not been staying in Machana but only came recently to take advantage of the situation,” she said. Ms Rabi also noted that business was slow since most households have benefitted from the free food baskets. ENDS