{
  "id": 10714781,
  "title": "Tongaat market vendors struggle as Tongaat market traders say temporary site is hurting livelihoods",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/tongaat-market-vendors-struggle-as-tongaat-market-traders-say",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-29T15:06:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/thepost/news/2026-09-29-tongaat-market-vendors-struggle-as-tongaat-market-traders-say-temporary-site-is-hurting-livelihoods/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tongaat Morning Market vendors are facing hardships as their temporary trading site, plagued by muddy conditions and poor shelter, hampers their livelihoods. The market vendors, who had been expecting renovations to be completed by August 28, now believe the task will not be finished until the end of October. Pravin Gopal, a vendor and committee deputy chairperson, expressed frustration as there has been no communication from officials handling the renovations. \"We have received no communication from the officials handling the renovations. They are not answering our calls or emails,\" Gopal lamented.\n\nGopal also mentioned that work on the renovations had been halted at one point, adding to the concerns of delays. The vendor community had not been receiving any confirmed updates on the project's progress and the anticipated return date. \"When I enquired with the senior officials at the market, they said that I was overstepping my role,\" Gopal said.\n\nThe relocation to the new site has exposed vendors to the elements, as heavy rains over the past three Saturdays left the grounds muddy and difficult to navigate. Nisha Ramruch, a vendor who has been trading for 20 years, said the temporary site made it difficult for her to sell prepared food. \"It is very difficult to sell our savories on the grounds. It is dangerous to be frying in the open with people walking so closely, also the weather makes it even more difficult,\" she explained.\n\nThe situation has also raised safety concerns, with Suresh Sewshanker, a plant vendor, stating that a slip and fall incident had already occurred due to the muddy grounds. He added that the lack of support from the municipality since being instructed to leave the premises has made trading on the new ground challenging. eThekwini Municipality spokesperson, Senzelwe Mzila, confirmed that the project was expected to be completed by the end of October.",
  "summary": "The renovations, which began in June, were initially expected to take three months, with completion promised for August 28.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Tongaat market vendors struggle as renovation deadline passes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/tongaat-market-vendors-struggle-as-renovation-deadline-passes",
        "published": "2026-09-29T15:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}