Tomorrow, 06 May 2016, Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Annette Steyn MP, will visit markets and taxi ranks in Johannesburg and Tshwane to talk to hawkers, traders, market agents and the general public. This will be to ascertain the effect of the drought on small businesses, the support offered to them by their municipalities, and the impact of red-tape on small businesses.

This follows from the last drought press conference held by the DA and is the first stop on our fact-finding tour of markets across the country to gauge the impact of the drought on rocketing food prices which impact the poor the most. This is while the ANC government continues in perpetual denialism, showing no urgency in dealing effectively with the drought by refusing to declare it a national disaster.

Ms Steyn will be joined by the DA’s Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Kevin Mileham MP, and DA’s Shadow Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, Henro Kruger MP. The DA’s Tshwane Mayoral Candidate, Solly Msimanga MPL and the DA’s Johannesburg Mayoral Candidate, Herman Mashaba will be accompanying the Shadow Ministers in their respective metros.

The tour will take place as follows:

JOHANNESBURG LEG with HERMAN MASHABA:
09:30 to 10:25 – Johannesburg Market at 1 Heidelberg Road (talking to traders)
10:45 to 11:30 – Walk-through at Wanderers taxi rank in Wanderers Street (talking to informal traders/hawkers)
 
TSHWANE LEG with SOLLY MSIMANGA:
13:30 to 14:30 – Tshwane Market at 450 President Burgers Street (talking to traders)
14:45 to 15:45 – Walk-through at 11th Street Taxi Rank in 11th Street (talking to informal traders/hawkers)

There will be photo and interview opportunities.

Media Enquiries:
Karabo Tledima
Press Officer
061 794 3819