Street vendors fighting for survival in the wake of the drought
Due to the drought crisis that South Africa is facing, farmer’s market prices have increased, putting a huge strain on street vendors who sell vegetables and fruit.
The result is that the businesses of the street vendors, who sell fresh produce direct to the public throughout Boksburg, especially in the CBD, are being crippled.
Windmill Park resident Felicia Taino, who has been selling vegetables and fruit for 22 years at the corner of Eloff and Commissioner streets, expressed shock at the escalating food prices.
“All these years I’ve been running my business smoothly, but now the increase in prices is killing my business, because I don’t make a profit anymore,” she said.
“Since October, last year, I have been paying R220 for a 10kg bag of tomatoes, whereas I used to pay R60.
“I used to buy potatoes for R30 and now they cost me R65. All the vegetables I buy have increased drastically, so I have no option but to push up my prices, but in the end my profit dwindles.”
Taino said that, on top of the increment in food prices, she also has to pay for transport, with these costs also increasing.
Her son, Abel, who works with his mother, said they have tried to limit the increase in costs when selling to the public, but so far they keep running at a loss.
Taino added that, despite the harsh times, she will not close down her business, because she has many customers.
“I will do what I have always done, which is to survive; I trust the situation will one day return to normal,” she said.
Another street vendor, Rebecca Shirinzah, who has been selling fruit and vegetables for 19 years, said that if the vegetable prices don’t drop she will look for a job, because she won’t survive by selling fresh produce.
“I used to buy 10kg bags of onions for R48, now I buy them for R58; bananas in a box were R100, now they cost R150, imagine how my customers, who would often buy from me, must suffer,” she said.
Fortunate Shabangu, who sells next to Shirinzah’s stall, said they have no choice but to survive on the street, selling fruit and vegetables.
“Many of us have no education, so there is nothing to fall back on; we can only hope for better days ahead,” she added.
