Both COSATU and StreetNet are pushing for up scaling of issues through the construction of forums at the metropolitan, provincial and national scales. StreetNet also pushes for up scaling of issues at an international scale which might be seen more as a request from the funders than a request from the traders themselves. This might also be a prerequisite for political efficiency.
StreetNet together with COSATU have put in place a number of initiatives to amplify the voice of informal traders so that their grievances are taken into account by government officials who are mandated to regulate their economic activity. These initiatives include the World Class Cities Campaign and planning for the creation of the South African National Alliance of Street Traders. StreetNet has a working relationship with COSATU because the two are concerned with organising informal traders in South Africa. Both COSATU and StreetNet have worked together on the world Class Cities Campaign and continue to work together to establish the South African National Alliance of Street Traders. This relationship is illustrated by the statements made by the COSATU Campaigns Organiser who states that:
“We have had collaborative work with StreetNet on a number of campaigns particularly from 2010 when host cities signed agreements through our country to host 2010 World Cup” (Mahlangu, COSATU representative: 2012).
“One of the strategic alliances we have is with trade unions and particularly with the unions of municipal workers who then assist in the process of encouraging street traders to work together and to speak with one voice” (Horn, StreetNet international coordinator: 2012).
The World Class Cities Campaign was launched in 2007 prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted in many cities in South Africa (Tissington, 2009; Haysom, 2010). The campaign had several aims to achieve in relation to informal traders which included the creation of an inclusive society which takes into account informal traders, to prevent xenophobia because the world cup was going to attract a number of immigrants who were also be looking for opportunities and for municipalities to establish engagement forums with informal traders’ organisation leaders so that
157 proper dialogue can take place and the poor included in the plans and opportunities that will come with the world cup. This campaign was launched at a time when
“[m]any host cities' municipal authorities [were] literally "sweeping" informal traders off the streets and declaring exclusion zones so that "the games can begin" (Haysom,2010: unpaginated).
The campaign managed to achieve a number of things in the country particularly in Johannesburg where in February 2010
“the city and the Department of Economic Development announced a programme to create opportunities for informal traders during the Games. It includes training and accreditation for food traders. Informal traders will be able to apply to trade at "demarcated" areas such as fan parks, public viewing stations, park and ride points, and at parallel events hosted by the city. The first priority is to include women food traders who normally trade at events but will be unable to earn an income at the stadiums or in the FIFA exclusion and commercial restriction zones” (Haysom, 2010: unpaginated).
The street traders’ organisation leaders interviewed did not talk about this. Maybe they were not part of this initiative during the world cup, or maybe the initiative was short lived or only restricted to a few.
Another initiative put forward by StreetNet partnering with COSATU has been to establish a National Alliance of Street Traders since 2003. The aim of this initiative is to organise and unite street traders so that they are able to put as much pressure on government as possible and to force government to involve them in decision making processes that impact on their economic activity. This initiative is an effort by both COSATU and StreetNet to up scale the issues of street traders where focus is not put on the ground but at the national scale.
This is stated by the international coordinator of the organisation below:
“StreetNet is setting up a national alliance of street traders where different organisations come together to act together in unity. That vision applies to all countries including South Africa so because Johannesburg is part of South Africa then the street traders are part of our alliance to form a national alliance of street traders of South Africa” (Horn: 2012).
A conference was held in Mangaung at the end of March 2012 between StreetNet, COSATU and delegates of street traders’ organisations from the nine provinces. The
158 aim of the conference was to establish the progress towards establishing the national alliance of street traders and the provincial alliance and the way forward. The Gauteng provincial alliance was not moving forward as compared to the other provinces and this is mainly because Johannesburg traders are the only ones working closely with COSATU and StreeNet, as there are no efforts to unite traders from Ekurhuleni, West Rand and Sedibeng and Tshwane with those in Johannesburg thus making it difficult to create a provincial structure which is a prerequisite for the national alliance of street traders. The purpose of the conference in Mangaung is stated by the respondent below:
“We involved traders from the 9 provinces to plan for the national alliance of street traders that I mentioned to you. So Johannesburg is part of Gauteng and there were delegates from Johannesburg. It was a national meeting in order to set up the national alliance of street traders” (Horn: 2012).
Some street traders’ organisation leaders also mention the issues encountered at the conference especially with regards to Johannesburg.
“From what I can understand that was part of the process and was not strictly focusing on policies it was more to unite the sector internationally. What they did, from what I can understand is appointed nine provincial coordinator but they are having difficulties with this side of Gauteng. Gauteng coordinators have been influenced by Xolani [DED deputy director for SMME
development] not to have much to do with COSATU, but all the eight
provinces seemed to be in track” (Respondent 1, organisation leader: 2012).
Added to the working relationship that StreetNet has with COSATU, it is also working with other renowned organisations or social movements that understand and can support the cause of the street traders. This organisation has forged alliances with other organisations which have similar agendas and are widely recognised social movements to amplify the voice of informal traders.
“What we have done is we have an international campaign of street traders and other groups of the poor like slum dwellers, like children`s rights organisations...” (Horn: 2012).