The issue around the town of Thohoyandou's smelly, dirty streets, which no one seems to want to take responsibility for, has resurfaced once again, leading to a finger-pointing duel between Thulamela Municipality and the local hawkers association.
During an interview with Thulamela Municipality on Capricorn FM news recently, following accusations that they are failing in their obligation to clean the town up regularly, the municipality blamed the street hawkers for the foul smells that hang over the streets, claiming that this is because the hawkers pour their used cooking oil down the stormwater drains.
However, Mr Elias Tshivhidzo, advisor of the Thulamela Hawkers Association, denied that members of his association had anything to do with such activities. "The members of this association, as well as those who are not registered with our association, are trying to keep the streets clean. Many of the hawkers who sell pap and stew are now bringing prepared food to their stalls, which they only have to warm up as customers come to buy. Let us not make the cleanliness of our town a campaigning tool as we head towards elections," Tshivhidzo said. The association has more than 1,000 registered members.
Limpopo Mirror took a walk through some of the streets. Many of the hawkers confirmed that they always bring prepared food and, at the end of the day, take the leftovers home or throw them in plastic refuse bags.
Dr Khangwelo Musetsho, a researcher at the University of Venda, suggested that the municipality should consider reusing used cooking oil to produce biodiesel.