Informal traders have pleaded with Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, to consider their plight when he prepares his budget speech and to not hike taxes especially those on tobacco products like e-cigarettes which are growing in popularity.

The South African Informal Traders Alliance (SAITA) called on Mboweni to recognise the sector as a major player in the economy and to consider the impact of spiralling electricity prices, taxes on goods like tobacco products and to provide small businesses with Covid-19 financial relief.