Kitab Unango
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. A number of traders in Juba have threatened to shut down their shops, citing harassment and extortion from Juba City Council officials.
The traders claimed they were subjected to unbearable conditions by ‘corrupt officials.’
They complained of high and multiple taxes, torture, and arbitrary arrest in cases where they failed to meet the demands of such officers.
“It seems as if traders are not clients of the Juba City Council. “There is supposed to be cooperation between Juba City Council and traders,” said Danato Ladu, a trader in Suk Libya.
“If traders are charged like that and they decide to withdraw their capital and go to invest in Ghana or Nigeria, of what benefit will it be to Juba City Council?”
Samuel Majak, a trader and member of the chamber of commerce, revealed that individuals claiming to be from the department of public order, state revenue authorities, as well as the department of local order, often overcharge them for stamp duty, garbage collection, and revenue percentage.
“The traders in Juba City are suffering from City Council, especially the department of public order, and some administrative officers who have not really understood the meaning of rescheduling.” It is true that public order has become typhoid to the traders,” said Majak.
“Every time traders are fined SSP 300,000, which is not indicated in the reschedules, and the same thing will happen again and again,” he added. After a few days, various people from various institutions, such as state revenue authorities and the Bureau of Standards, arrive.
Majak further said “If we are to sit and think critically, where do you think such a trader always gets the money? And if you demand money from the trader and he or she does not have it, why not give him or her a few days to look for it rather than closing the shop?”
The Juba City Council was yet to respond to the trader’s complaint.
However, Wani promised to forward the matter to the authorities, confirming that traders’ complaints were overdue.
“The leadership of Juba City Market expresses concern about the situation of traders in Juba City, that they have been pressured by the department of public order, and that they have witnessed the misbehaviour of some law enforcement agents and administrative officers in the respective markets.”
“We have been undergoing these challenges, and we have issued so many letters that the issues may be addressed, but unfortunately, we feel like we are just rotating in one place.”
“We are really waiting for the day that these challenges will be addressed and traders will be free,” said Wani.
Wani called on the Juba City Council leadership to provide a conducive business environment for the traders.
“We serve our people, and we are carrying value that guides us in providing those services,” he explained.
“Let the department of local order reduce their speed, intensify their awareness, be reasonable, and let them actually implement what is mentioned in reschedule,” said Wani.
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