When Thulamela Municipality moved hundreds of vendors earlier this year, saying it was preparing a better place for them, many dismissed the step as just a gimmick.

They said the government did not care about the people, except when it was time to vote. Their faith in the government has now been restored. This comes after the municipality has opened brand new market stalls.

The women who owned stalls at an empty space next to Eskom's offices were removed when a massive developmental project kicked off last month. After their stalls were destroyed, some did not have any place to trade, while others who were lucky gained trading space next to the municipal offices. The municipality had promised that some would be moved to a better trading place in town.

More than fifty women danced in jubilation when the mayor of Thulamela, in partnership with officials from the department of economic development and tourism, handed them the keys to their new stalls. One of the stall owners, Ms Mavis Maselesele, said the new stall was a big relief for her. Maselesele (57) said she started trading in town in 1987, but suffered a setback when the stalls they were trading in were burnt down.

She said the new stalls camee as a relief, even though the rent is too high for them. “We have lost our customers as many do not know where to find us. We feel the R350 we have to pay is too much as we have to pay for electricity and water, which is also expensive,” she said.

Mahosi urged stall owners to take care of the stalls, saying they should guard jealously against the vandalisation of the stalls.

Mr Ashley Rasebotsa from the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism said the new stalls came as part of a commitment by government to empower the community, as a way of easing poverty and unemployment. “We are restoring the dignity of the people. We are going to roll out the same facilities to identified areas. We have put aside a budget especially for this,” he said.