Nombuyiselo Maloyi
YOU can’t miss the Freedom Square RDP and Healing Centre, launched on Saturday. Fifty shipping containers painted in all the colours of the new South Africa flag now occupy the field in Kliptown, near Soweto, where the Freedom Charter was drafted 49 years ago.
The traders’ containers and corrugated iron units were donated by Safmarine. Paying homage to the historic site, one container has been set aside and the main principles of the Freedom Charter painted in bold black letters on the wall.
The rest of the containers have been converted into restaurants, butcher shops, a tavern, hair salons, a library, and various retail spaza outlets.
The containers are managed and rented out by the National Consumer’s Co-operative Union (NCCU), a community based economic empowerment project in Soweto. The co-op — the first black consumer co-operative society to be registered — was founded in 1986 by Bizzah Molotov, a former official of the Soweto Civic Organisation.
The Freedom Square project is not perfect. There are complaints from the traders: that there is no electricity, there are no toilets — and the rental is high.
Like the other occupants of container-shops, trader Rebecca Matlou used to do business from a stall in a fleamarket next to Freedom Square, and there are still many traders in the fleamarket, selling clothes, food and second-hand furniture.
Matlou said her container-shop is better than a stall, but the lack of electricity is a problem. “Without electricity, I am running at a stock loss. I have to order frozen meat which I must sell within a week. I didn’t order anything for the festive season because it is extremely hot during December and meat gets spoilt.”
Thembi Mahlangu, who sells food and cold drinks, also raised her concern about electricity, but her main complaint was the rent. “We pay R200 for a place without electricity. Our stock is safe here but we have to close before dark.”
Molotov’s response to the traders’ complaints is that management has spoken to Eskom and is waiting for the installation of electricity in the area. He confirmed that there are some shortcomings with the centre, but said the community’s response is overwhelming.
He said aspiring entepreneurs are constantly asking to be accommodated in the Freedom Square Traders’ Market or asking for facilities and training to enable them to set up their own business elsewhere.
The rental is being used to pay for the security guards who look after the place 24 hours a day , as well as the management staff.
The project has been funded by the Independent Development Trust. Funds and advice have also come from the Business Opportunity Centre, Informal Business Enrichment Centre, and many private sector entities.