The Head of the Department, Mbulelo Nokwequ, tells OFM News that efforts have been to also address some of the issues raised, including unlicensed businesses which are mushrooming and the allocation of Covid-19 relief funds. Nokwequ has, however, conceded that they lack resources to fully address some of the mentioned issues and also says the department finds itself strained due to limited Covid-19 relief funds.

"We tried to cover both formal and informal sectors with the little budget we had and understandably those who did not receive it are unhappy. We did thorough due diligence, even under very difficult circumstances, because some people's shops were closed at the time we went to do due diligence, and so forth, so there are people are who really unhappy," he adds.

The leader of the group that protested in Mangaung on Tuesday, Potso Motoko, told residents outside the offices of the department that they want the department to address issues of no funding of small businesses; and foreign nationals allegedly selling counterfeit goods. The department is set to respond to the demands within seven working days.

The group marched to the department to hand over their memorandum of grievances. The group that marched to Destea accuses the department of irregularly awarding funds to their friends, girlfriends and family members. The group has further accused officials of the department of being lazy.
 
Scores of residents from towns such as Thaba Nchu, Botshabelo and Soutpan on Tuesday marched to the offices of the department. Following the march at Destea, residents headed to the troubled Mangaung Metro Municipal headquarters where they were met by police officials and security guards. They then successfully handed over their memorandum.

OFM News / Lucky Nkuyane and Kekeletso Mosebetsi