19 Jul 2023

Street vendors and hawkers on Monday had a heyday, thatnks to Kokotsha horse races that took place simultaneously, thereby attracting multitudes of fanatics from near and far.

In an interview, a kiosk operator, 26-year-old Ms Boneelo Maratiso of Werda appreciated that the events had enabled her to make sales. 

Ms Maratiso had selected to put up a finger foods stall closer to the liquor bar where she could benefit from customers who came from both Houmoed Kokotsha Horse Racing Association and Kokotsha Community Horse Racing Association sites.

According to her, holding of the two horse race events concurrently made it difficult for the hawkers to make a business decision to buy stalls at any of the sites as they were not sure where they would find more customers.

Ms Maratiso then chose a more neutral area, cost free where she could benefit more. 

She said she did not regret her business decision as she was doing well on the central spot.

For her, business was much better at the liquor bar than at the horse race fields where the crowd was split into two.

Thus she called for the two horse race associations to come together and hold one event where vendors could book stalls from one entity.

For her part, 40-year-old Mr Tshepaone Batshomi of Makopong said business was booming, adding that he was a regular at the horse races where he usually booked stalls.

 “This year I did not buy a stall, I decided to erect a stall at the liquor bar because there are more customers here than at the fields,” he said.

He highlighted that Kokotsha Horse Race presented great opportunities for small businesses, hence the need for the organisers to unite.

As for the 53-year-old Ms Monica Kaogase of Omaweneno, business started off on a low note, but gained momentum as the events progressed. 

An early starter, she set up her stall a day before the events. 

Ms Kaogase called for the race organisers to come together, pick different dates to enable interested entrepreneurs to secure stalls.

She said the stand-off between the two associations negatively affected businesses, adding that she had in the past bought a stall at one of the horse races, but dismally lost after discovering that there were not enough customers on the ground. 

Ms Kaogase said she had grown smarter and decided to put up a food stall at a central point where there were more customers coming from both races. Ends