09 Mar 2014

Jwaneng Town Council (JTC) recently demolished 280 abandoned vendors' structures within the township.

The council principal public relations officer, Ms Dinah Bogale explained that the decision to demolish the structures was reached by the Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) and physical planning committees as part of their inventory.

She attributed the high number of structures to the fact that former residents of Senthumole squatter camp did not demolish their structures when they were evicted from the township.

One of the hawkers, Ms Mmabatho Rantsie said even though demolishing abandoned structures by the council was a good move, there was never enough consultation regarding the matter.

She appealed to the council to construct a central point of operation for small scale businesses, which should also house a market for their products.

One residents, Ms Keneilwe Nyambe said the initiative by the council was welcome as some of the abandoned structures were making the town look untidy.

She however concurred that small businesses needed one place of operation where potential customers could be able to buy from as supermarkets did not always have all necessary goods needed by customers.

However, the PPRO said before the demolition of structures, efforts were made to reach the owners of the structures and they were given an option to demolish their structures and salvage material, failing which the council would demolish the structures and take the material to the landfill.

Ms Bogale explained the council also ran a public notice for a month and a news article that was sent to the national radio to inform the public of the planned exercise to demolish abandoned vending structures. Ends