We were not good enough for Gugulethu mall, trader tells retail grocery inquiry
Small and family owned retailers told public hearings on Tuesday of their struggle to conduct business in townships and rural areas, with national supermarket chains increasingly extending their reach into these previously underserviced regions. Small and independent retailers took the stand as the grocery retail market inquiry, headed by Halton Cheadle, went into the second day of public hearings in Cape Town. Thandi Kama, the owner of Skhoma Butchery in Gugulethu, said her business had nearly gone under since the establishment of Gugulethu Square. Its anchor tenants include Shoprite and Spar. “We were promised that our business would be taken to the next level with the development of the mall. We were told we would have 5% ownership in the mall. We, along with other small businesses, had been trading in the area for more than 30 years. But when the development came, we were told we were not good enough,” said Kama. The business that her father had built and established was forcibl...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.