Durban’s informal traders are getting a major vote of confidence. The eThekwini Municipality on Friday officially launches Phase One of the R29 million Mansel Road Market Development and hands over trading permits to 53 newly selected Church Walk traders — another milestone in the city’s drive to strengthen its informal economy.
The project forms part of the municipality’s ongoing investment to modernise informal trading infrastructure, create sustainable livelihood opportunities and build a more inclusive local economy where informal businesses can thrive, according to SAnews.
Traders as job creators
Thembo Ntuli, chairperson of the city’s Economic Development and Planning Committee, said the informal economy remains one of Durban’s strongest economic pillars, supporting thousands of households and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs across eThekwini.
“Our informal traders are not only business owners, but they are also job creators, breadwinners and drivers of local economic growth. Through strategic investments such as the Mansel Road Market Development, we are creating safer, dignified and business-friendly trading spaces that enable entrepreneurs to grow their businesses while improving the lives of their families,” Ntuli said.
What the upgrade delivers
The upgraded facility gives traders a working environment that matches their ambition. Improvements include:
- Modernised trading infrastructure designed for safer, more dignified trading
- Upgraded ablution facilities for traders and customers
- Dedicated maintenance and cleaning services to keep the market in top condition
For the 53 Church Walk traders receiving permits, the change is more than symbolic. The municipality said the allocation of trading permits will enable them to operate legally while supporting the growth and sustainability of their businesses — turning informal stalls into secure livelihoods that families can build on.
A city investing in its people
The Mansel Road development adds to a growing story of investment in Durban’s street-level economy. By pairing physical upgrades with formal permits, the city is giving entrepreneurs both the space and the security to grow, hire and serve their communities.
It is the kind of practical, people-first service delivery that turns busy pavements into engines of opportunity — and it signals that the city sees its traders not as a challenge to manage, but as partners in building a more prosperous eThekwini.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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