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Table 5 shows the reasons why respondents experience problems. Only 85 responses were indicated.
Table 5: REASONS FOR PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED Reasons for problems
More competition
Lack of funds for expansion No weather protection
Limited business knowledge Lack of security
Some hawkers do not have a permit Police harassment and corruption Lack of trading space
No financial government support Have been forced to relocate Proliferation of profit
Too many public phones Lack of water to cleaning tools %
16 14 14 13 12 7 7 6 6 1 1 1 1
A large number of hawkers lead to more competition. Respondents condemned those trading without permit. As there are many hawkers, there is a lack of trading space. Weather conditions are also problematic, as there is no protection from the hot sun or rain. Not having a shelter requires taking equipment and stock home every day and prevent them from keeping too much stock as it has to be transported daily. Respondents lack funds for expansion and regard their limited business knowledge as problematic. Security is also problematic, especially police harassing them by demanding money or threatening them with removal. It seems that there is corruption in the police force in Tzaneen.
Results of how to improve the trading environment of hawkers
The respondents had several suggestions on how to improve their trading environment as shown in Table 6. Table 6: IMPROVEMENTS OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunities
Business skills training Infrastructure shelters Finance
Infrastructure water Rubbish removal Infrastructure toilets
Infrastructure equipment None
%
22 21 18 14 12 7 5 1
Respondents are keen to receive business skills training and to have some shelter from weather conditions. They also regard access to finance as high on their priority list. Access to water and rubbish removal was mentioned by some of the respondents as an opportunity to improve their trading environment. They vary considerably in their responses on what they regard can improve
IMPROVING THE TRADING ENVIRONMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN HAWKERS INDUSTRY 55