Unlicensed dealerships create 165 jobs amidst rising unemployment

Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Barariwa Mathoothe, revealed this when responding to a question in Parliament from Mogoditshane East MP, Letlhogonolo Barongwang. The MP had sought clarity on the number of licensed and unlicensed second-hand vehicle dealerships operating in Mogoditshane, as well as their contribution to employment and government revenue. Mathoothe disclosed that a recent profiling exercise identified a total of 120 active imported pre-owned motor dealer operators in Mogoditshane.

Of these, 62 are licensed by the Mogoditshane-Thamaga District Council, whilst 58 are operating without licences and are therefore considered illegal. Speaker of the National Assembly, Dithapelo Keorapetse, has this week rightly washed his hands of the mess, refusing to wade into a party squabble that has no clear leadership and no single version of the truth.When a single party sends six different letters to the Speaker’s office, each claiming to be the authoritative voice, it is not just confusion, but an embarrassment.Keorapetse is correct to insist on institutional boundaries. Parliament…