Vendors: One City many cultures

By Igboanugo Sunday

“Vendors gives our city colour” says Paul Williamson who is the service co-ordinator of Business Areas Management and Economic and Human development in cape town. He is passionate about local trade and contributing towards the development of vendors.

So often the vendors in Cape Town are overlooked but we need to realise that they showcase what Cape Town is all about in an exceptionally unique way. Vendors portray a diverse and interesting group of cultures and languages in the city of Cape Town. Paul says that by upgrading the areas in which these vendors are situated and enabling environments contributes to the economy of the city.

These vendors are extremely talented and passionate about what they do and in doing so attract many tourists to the city. Paul says that “the vision of these vendors is a marking point for young people who want to start their own business; it is simply all about innovation and taking a bold step”.

As Capetonians we need to realise that these vendors are trying to make a living, not by doing nothing and begging at robots but using their skills, and this deserves our support. If we are able to do this, then the negative perceptions of vendors will be changed and will not be seen as an annoyance trying to sell all kinds of gadgets but an entrepreneur building a business.

Sunny Leo who is the owner of Kingston Jamaica Rasta says that “it is incredible being part of a city that allows us to be innovative and incorporate our culture and style into our products. Many people do not understand that we are passionate about what we do and work really hard like Kingston Jamaica Rasta’s clothing are handmade and takes a really long time to produce but we do it with so much precision. We take pride in the work that we do.”

The role that vendors play in Cape Town cannot be underestimated as they enhance the image of Cape Town.