Durban: Street Vendors` Protest Letter to eThekwini Municipality

7 January 2009

City Manager.
Strategic Projects and 2010 Programme.
Business Support.
iTRUMP.
Intersite.

Warwick Junction Redevelopment Process

We place on record our extreme concern that significant redevelopment of Warwick Junction is being considered without a meaningful process or consultation. This omission started in 2006 with the commissioning of the latest Warwick Junction Framework Plan and has now, in our opinion, reached crisis proportions where only rumours and speculation are informing the primary stakeholders of Warwick Junction.

We believe that recently a public notice was posted regarding the Warwick Mall. We understand that the implications of this notice were to have been communicated to all the interested and affected parties in the immediate area. We can confirm that no recognized approaches have been made to any of our trader organizations or their members.

Of further concern is that although the suspicion exists that the development is imminent, it is only now that the preparatory activity appears to be increasing ­precisely at the busiest time for traders and then their customary` annual leave for the early weeks of January. We believe this is inconsiderate and that if substantial decisions are deliberately taken over this period which prejudices the involvement and the futures of the traders, it can only be seen as having been implemented in bad faith.

We the undersigned believe that an agreed and transparent process must be urgently established to dispel our fears that the traders of Warwick Junction are being ignored and that the development will be proceeding regardless of our opinion or preferences. We have become accustomed to a local authority that values respectful community participation.

Yours faithfully,

Jabulani Ntsele Chairperson The Eye Traders` Association, Sisonke Alliance.

Tel 073-4961670
Gaby Bikombo, Siyagunda Association, Sisonke Alliance
Tel 073 2570686
Mzwandile Mayula, ACHIB
Tel 082 9604256