South Sudan newspaper vendors struggle to survive amid drop in sales

Newspaper vendors are finding it hard to make sales to earn a living due to the drop in sales caused by the prevailing economic hardship.

Mawien Deng Cholthok, a 27-year-old newspaper vendor and resident of Jebel Dinka suburb of Juba, said he has since 2014 been surviving on this job to feed his two families but now he is finding it hard to put food on the table.

 “We are selling newspapers every day, we either agree to supply clients in town or move around to look for potential buyers, there are people who buy but the sales are now very low as compared to previous years,” Cholthok told The Juba Echo in Juba on Monday.

Cholthok often sells newspapers around Konyokonyo market, Malakia and along Tambura road.

He said his pay depends on newspaper sales he makes on daily basis.

 “I am selling about 25 copies daily but that is also translates into low commission, I have two wives and they need money for food and rent, there is work but the payment is not enough that is the main reason we opted to hustle in the market,” Cholthok said.

“Sometimes I earn about 6000 or 8000 SSP and that is still not enough?” he disclosed.

John Laat Telar, a distributor for The Dawn Newspaper, said newspaper vendors are trying their best to sell the newspapers but there are often returns.

Santino Majak, a graduate of business administration from University of Juba corroborated Cholthok, saying he no longer earns a lot of money from selling text books, magazines and newspapers compared to 2020.

“I have been selling books, magazines and newspapers but things are getting worse, I have decided to maintain the business. We have no other means to survive but on newspapers,” Majak said.

The South Sudanese Pound has continued to depreciate against the U.S dollar hitting the mark of 1000, the highest in the black market since independence from Sudan in 2011.