The hawkers, from King Williamstown, Mdantsane and East London, received training in basic bookkeeping, stock control, health and hygiene, marketing and customer care.

“The training taught me how to grow my business, save money and how to interact properly with my customers,” said Lungiswa Mama, a Mdantsane hawker.

At a ceremony held in East London on Wednesday, Buffalo City Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku emphasised that hawkers play an important role in job creation and local economic development.

“I hope you will use the information you got from the training to grow your businesses,” she said to the 90 hawkers who attended the ceremony.

The hawkers who participated in the training were presented with certificates by Councilor Siyabonga Skolo.

King Williamstown hawker Ntomboxolo Gavu, 37, was grateful for the training which she said would enable her to grow her business.

“The training gave me new ways of investing and using my money. I encourage other hawkers to take advantage of these programmes when they are offered again,” said Gavu, who has been a hawker for five years.

Faku also appealed to the hawkers to take what they had learnt and train other hawkers. “Pass this information on to other hawkers and show them the importance of basic business training,” she said. – BuaNews