Situated on Wick Street, the Verulam Market has a rich history spanning over eight decades. What started as vendors selling fresh produce at open stalls, turned into a fully-fledged market run by the Verulam Town Board. Each market vendor rents their table at R246 per a month.

Reena Moodley, 58, from Riyadh Township, Verulam, started out at her stall at age 18. 

“I started here after I finished school and sold the vegetables my mother (Packrimah Mabeer) used to grow on the farm in Ottawa. I have been here for 40 years. It really has been a long time,” she reminisced. 

She said her mother started farming when she was 12 and started selling vegetables at the market when she was 15. Moodley said her parents planted herbs, green beans and cabbages.

“I later took over, My mother died eight years ago at age 64 and I still have their farm in Ottawa. In addition to selling fresh produce, I also supply vegetables to other stallholders,” she said.  

She said the surrounding supermarkets and illegal vendors outside the market had taken over their business 

“Because of this, we face financial difficulties because the crowd is not as big as it used to be.” 

Moodley said her daughter helped her and her husband Jayram, an amputee, financially. 

“When we do not make cash, they are our back up. Even my granddaughters, who are in Cape Town, come to the market with us and experience what it is like to be a market vendor. While there are challenges, we cannot sit at home when we have so many expenses. I’m here at 5am each morning. It is tough but I will continue selling until I cannot anymore.” 

It’s far cry, she said, from the days when they used to make so much money that they hired security to escort them to their home out of fear of being robbed. 

Sugen Reddy, 40, from Tongaat, began working at his fathers fresh produce stall 36 years ago.  

“My dad, Logan Reddy, came from a farming family. He was the first in his family to apply for a stall to become a vendor. My father started out at the old Verulam Market, which has since become a heritage site. He sold chickens. When this market was built, he relocated. He initially sold fruit and vegetables with cucumber being the main seller.” 

He said some of the families who initially supported his father, now supported his business.    

“We still sell the freshest produce at a cheaper price. Our mark-ups are low because this is a low income area but many people still prefer shopping at the supermarket.”  

Reddy said he did not aspire to take over the business but it was his dad’s wish. 

“I have two sisters but the responsibility fell on to me. I studied PC engineering but I left after a year. My dad wanted me to leave and take over the stall. He is now 77.”   

For Reddy, nothing beats life at the market. 

Starling Vengsoobin, 79, formally from Hazelmere and now reading in Reservoir Hills, came from a farming family. 

She has been a market vendor for 52 years and was the third farmer to join the market when it opened. 

“I am a wholesaler and farmer, until I had to give up my farm due to the informal settlements that took over our land. I miss farming, and selling is my only form of income now.”

Two of Vengsoobin’s three children have died.

She said her son told her to stop working because business was not good, “but this is all I know”.  

“I wish the good old days would return, when crowds of people came through.” 

THE POST

Source link