City of Joburg calls on informal traders to apply for permits

The City of Johannesburg is urging all informal traders across the metro to apply for permits that will allow them to operate in designated trading areas.

The initiative is part of the city’s new programme to better regulate the sector amid growing concerns that informal trading has contributed to the filthy state of the CBD.

Traders who have been operating in undesignated areas have recently been removed, a move that has sparked significant backlash.

Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero announced the rollout of the informal traders’ registration process.

“The city’s efforts are designed to restore order and safety while promoting a regulated and inclusive informal trading environment. Invitations of new applications will be based on available space and policy provision. So, it can’t be perpetual that everybody wants to trade in the city. So, it will be regulated and limited to a particular number of people.”

JOBURG TO CRACKDOWN ON UNAUTHORISED TRADERS

Moreover, the city said it’s committed to clamping down on unauthorised trading in the CBD.

The municipality has been removing traders operating illegally and outside designated trading areas.

The move has sparked pushback, with the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa taking the city to court over the removal of traders from their spots.

Morero stressed the city is not against informal trading, but rather against those who fail to follow municipal by-laws.

“The city’s approach remains supportive but structured. To regulate rather than to prohibit informal trading. Over the past decade, the city has implemented several key measures, including the adoption of an information trading policy.”

Morero also acknowledged that unlicensed informal traders in the inner city are contributing to its decline.

“Illegal and unregulated trading has led to overcrowding, obstruction of pedestrians and compromised safety and cleanliness within the city,” he said.

According to figures released by the City of Johannesburg, over 25,000 informal traders are operating across the municipality.

The metro also reported that this sector contributes between 5% and 7% to the local economy.