ActionSA is extremely disappointed, but not entirely surprised, by the actions of the Department of Education in Gauteng for not taking accountability for the loss of income they have inflicted to many South African legal vendors in schools by banning them from selling food. These legal vendors have not been linked to any wrongdoing towards which the Department had issued the ban.
In a letter dated 5th December, as Caucus Leader, I wrote to the MEC of Education, requesting his department to take accountability for the loss of income to South African vendors, most of whom are elderly women, by compensating them for the average income lost due to the unlawful banning of their trades in schools.
Instead of responding to the issue raised in the letter, which was precipitated by the MEC’s statement to suspend food sales in and around school premises made on the 7th November, the MEC defects it to the Department of Economic Affairs and relegates it to spaza shops. The issue of compensation has nothing to do with spaza shops but everything to do with school vendors whom he unilaterally and unlawfully suspended from conducting their legal businesses. This response by the department demonstrates a growing trend of the Gauteng Executive not prioritising South Africans. That cannot be right.
A number of children in this province have died from food poisoning linked to illegal shops operated by illegal foreigners, yet the provincial government responded by immediately closing down South African legal school vendors who operate within the rule of law and are without any links to the foodborne illnesses and deaths, whilst those heavily implicated were given almost a month to re-register.
ActionSA will not engage in a blame game between any departments but will directly ask the Premier to account for this loss of income that our South African vendors are facing, seeing that the MEC is shying away from that responsibility. As we approach Christmas, many of these women who sell in schools have children and families to support. We cannot ignore their plight and punish them for the actions of spaza shops operated by illegal foreigners while they are law-abiding citizens.
ActionSA stands firmly with the legal school vendors who have been unfairly targeted and demands immediate action to rectify this injustice. We call on the Gauteng provincial government to prioritise the needs of South African citizens and ensure that these vendors are compensated for their loss of income. If our government cannot protect its own citizens and their livelihoods, who will?
It is imperative that the government upholds its responsibility to protect and support its law-abiding citizens, especially during this critical time. ActionSA will continue to advocate for justice and accountability, ensuring that the voices of these vendors are heard, and their livelihoods are protected.
ActionSA Disappointed but not Surprised by Lack of Accountability from Gauteng Education Department
ActionSA is extremely disappointed, but not entirely surprised, by the actions of the Department of Education in Gauteng for not taking accountability for the loss of income they have inflicted to many South African legal vendors in schools by banning them from selling food. These legal vendors have not been linked to any wrongdoing towards which the Department had issued the ban.
In a letter dated 5th December, as Caucus Leader, I wrote to the MEC of Education, requesting his department to take accountability for the loss of income to South African vendors, most of whom are elderly women, by compensating them for the average income lost due to the unlawful banning of their trades in schools.
Instead of responding to the issue raised in the letter, which was precipitated by the MEC’s statement to suspend food sales in and around school premises made on the 7th November, the MEC defects it to the Department of Economic Affairs and relegates it to spaza shops. The issue of compensation has nothing to do with spaza shops but everything to do with school vendors whom he unilaterally and unlawfully suspended from conducting their legal businesses. This response by the department demonstrates a growing trend of the Gauteng Executive not prioritising South Africans. That cannot be right.
A number of children in this province have died from food poisoning linked to illegal shops operated by illegal foreigners, yet the provincial government responded by immediately closing down South African legal school vendors who operate within the rule of law and are without any links to the foodborne illnesses and deaths, whilst those heavily implicated were given almost a month to re-register.
ActionSA will not engage in a blame game between any departments but will directly ask the Premier to account for this loss of income that our South African vendors are facing, seeing that the MEC is shying away from that responsibility. As we approach Christmas, many of these women who sell in schools have children and families to support. We cannot ignore their plight and punish them for the actions of spaza shops operated by illegal foreigners while they are law-abiding citizens.
ActionSA stands firmly with the legal school vendors who have been unfairly targeted and demands immediate action to rectify this injustice. We call on the Gauteng provincial government to prioritise the needs of South African citizens and ensure that these vendors are compensated for their loss of income. If our government cannot protect its own citizens and their livelihoods, who will?
It is imperative that the government upholds its responsibility to protect and support its law-abiding citizens, especially during this critical time. ActionSA will continue to advocate for justice and accountability, ensuring that the voices of these vendors are heard, and their livelihoods are protected.