The South African Union Council of Independent Churches (SAUCIC) on Wednesday welcomed the Pretoria High Court, Gauteng Division’s order suspending the closure of Tshwane Market in Marabastad describing it as reprieve and conciliatory step.
President Cardinal Archbishop Dr Modiri Patrick Shole said that the court order issued on the 31 July 2025 allows parties involved in the legal dispute to find amicable and mutually beneficial solutions to address the current impasse.
“Marabastad occupies a special place in the history of resistance against forced removals. It survived the repressive apartheid regime’s concerted effort to destroy the livelihoods of historically marginalised communities that constituted the multicultural settlement,” highlighted Cardinal Shole.
Shole said that it would have been a travesty of justice to see the closure of such a viable economic hub that is also supporting traders from neighbouring townships.
SAUCIC is however encouraged by progress registered towards compliance to create a safer, hygienic trading environment in line with the municipal bylaws, he stressed.
“The training of 49 food handlers by the City of Tshwane and issuing of zoning rights which allow them to operate their businesses at the Tshwane Fresh Produce Market has demonstrated the municipality’s commitment to formalise the traders for sustainable trading and enterprise development,” emphasised Shole.
He mentioned that the partnership should strive for compliance and enforcement to isolate unethical business practices that undermine health as well as safety requirements while also promoting new investments and infrastructure development.
“The historic bonds as well as foundational shared struggles of the Indian, Coloured and African communities including their cultural and religious diversity must not be lost as catalysts of unity, nation building, social cohesion, urban renewal and integrated development,” he underscored.