A Clifton beach goer in Cape Town claims he was “scammed” into paying exorbitantly high prices for a beverage by a vendor.
The picturesque location and its neighbour, Camps Bay, are hot spots for locals and tourists, particularly during the festive season.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has claimed the city is preparing for a “bumper festive season” with an influx of tourists, particularly to beaches.
CLIFTON BEACH GOER: ‘I GOT SCAMMED’
In a video that has gone viral on social media, Cape Town CrossFit athlete Ronan Siebert bemoaned having to pay a significantly higher price for a drink.
Siebert purchased two “baby Cokes” – a 300ml bottle – from an informal trader.
He paid R80 for both.
“I just got scammed”, he shared in an Instagram video. “Making me pay international prices,” he added.
In the comments section, his followers agreed.
@kingcoles.girl: “R40 each is insane”
@tristan_johnson.16: “Bro could’ve gotten 2 2L and have change😂”
@que_likhakha: “80? No, the standard of living is too high!”
INFORMAL BEACH TRADING
According to the City of Cape Town, beach vendors, like the one spotted at Clifton or Camps Bay, must apply for an official beach trading permit.
To do this, vendors must create an e-Service account via their portal. Food vendors require additional documentation, including a business license (or trading permit) and a Certificate of Acceptability (COA).
The city states that permits have monthly tariffs ranging from R80 to R1 500, depending on the location of a trading bay.
