The City of Cape Town’s Urban Management Directorate recently hosted 150 women, from approximately 30 associations, at an informal trading seminar

As arguably one of the world’s largest contributors to the economy, the informal trading sector has the potential to build meaningful livelihoods that can shape the well-being of residents and cities.

Keynote topics at the seminar included:

• Clothing manufacturing in the informal economy;
• Poverty, waste pickers and day labourers in the informal economy;
• Why waste is not rubbish and opportunities in recycling; and
• Women leading in the informal trading sector

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management, Alderman Grant Twigg says this city-wide event was the first of its kind and celebrated women in informal trading, their contribution and the impact they make in their local communities.

The objective of this seminar aimed to:

• Provide a platform to celebrate significant women within the informal trading economy.
• Identify and highlight the constraints and opportunities for women within the informal economy, especially within the manufacturing and recycling industry.
• Develop and identify programmes addressing these constraints.
• Showcase studies and stories of women, who despite all the challenges they face, have been successful in this competitive industry.