The Kanyenathi project, in which traders were trained to identify and prioritise their infrastructure needs, was carried out over 3 years and ended in 2017. Having identified their needs, the intention was to then enable a process for the informal workers to engage with the City on an ongoing basis. Whilst the research project is now finished, and a full report of the findings completed, AeT has continued to provide the secretariat for the meetings between the traders and the City. This has enabled the traders to use and hone their skills to interact constructively with the municipality. Two traders reflect on the project, saying:
“It was interesting to see the people that normally lead a meeting actually listen. We had the power to design the programme so that the municipality listened to us. Usually the city sets the meeting, presents to us, and often they run out of time, so our voices are not heard.”
“The project showed the traders that we can approach authorities with our issues with confidence through working together and have all the information we refer to documented. We have gained a sense of confidence in how to present issues in future… We have seen the difference it makes now that we collaborate as the street committees and informal traders around Durban.”
As part of this process and to communicate the outcomes to the wider community a series of newsletters has also been produced, which are based on what was discussed in the meetings, as well as current events in Warwick. The newsletters, available in English and isiZulu, are printed and distributed to traders.
The second Kanyenathi newsletter, in English; August 2017.
You can access the newsletters by clicking on the links below:
