City of Johannesburg

Mericca Kheswa, a 58-year-old informal trader in Johannesburg's CBD, has spent 33 years selling affordable meals, lifting her family out of poverty. Starting with R5 plates in the early 1990s, her business has funded her children's education and built a stable future. Despite challenges like health issues and permit disputes, she continues her early-morning routine to serve the city's workers.