Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Eastern Cape Provincial Secretary of the United Democratic Movement

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape strongly condemns the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality for imposing an over-priced fee of R2,200 on landlords for tuckshop lease permits.

This unfair charge comes at a time when many residents in the area are already struggling with high unemployment and rely on their properties as a means of survival.

It is especially disheartening that, while the rest of the country is working to formalise and support small businesses like tuckshops, landlords and immigrant spaza shop owners in KwaNobuhle, including those from Pakistan, Somalia and Ethiopia, were called to a meeting at Babs Madlakane Hall and instructed to pay this unaffordable fee.

For residents who are already struggling to make ends meet, this charge is a further blow to their livelihoods.

The UDM calls on the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to reconsider this decision and show compassion to the community.

Instead of assisting residents, R2,200 fee deepen poverty and create more barriers for people trying to earn a living.

Elderly residents, who have been renting out their homes for more than fifteen years, are now being unfairly punished for simply trying to survive.

While the UDM supports the formal registration of tuckshops across the province, we urge that this process be implemented fairly and transparently.

We also appeal to individuals to avoid assisting illegal foreign nationals in registering tuckshops under their names, as this makes the permit holder legally responsible for any violations or issues.

The UDM encourages South Africans to take the lead in rebuilding and reclaiming the township economy by opening and managing their own tuckshops.

The municipality must prioritise supporting local entrepreneurs and removing unnecessary obstacles that hinder economic growth.

We also acknowledge the closure of illegally operated tuckshops and the crackdown on the sale of expired goods in schools.

However, the responsibility does not end there, the wholesalers who supply these substandard products must also be held accountable to ensure fairness and compliance with regulations.

The UDM stands with the people of Nelson Mandela Bay and calls for immediate action to address these issues in a way that supports, rather than oppresses, struggling communities.