Joburg begins verification and permit process for informal traders

The City of Johannesburg has started a two-week verification and registration process for informal traders operating in the Central Business District (CBD), following a recent order by the Gauteng High Court.

The ruling compels the city to formalise trading activities by issuing verified permits to those who meet the required criteria.

Judge Brad Wanless ruled that the process must commence on 4 November and be completed by no later than 18 November 2025.

Verification and registration process

Informal traders will need to visit 66 Jorissen Place in Braamfontein to submit their applications. Officials from the City of Johannesburg will review each application to confirm eligibility before issuing permits.

To qualify for a trading permit, applicants must meet specific requirements:

South African citizens must provide a valid ID document.

Foreign nationals must present a valid passport or asylum seeker documentation, along with proof of legal residence in the country.

All applicants are required to submit proof f residence and a certificate of acceptability from the city’s Environmental Health Department.

According to city officials, these requirements are designed to verify the identity and residential status of traders and to ensure that trading spaces are used strictly for business purposes, not for accommodation.

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Smart Card permits and designated stalls

Once approved, traders will receive a smart card permit, which will serve as official proof of authorisation to trade. The card will feature the trader’s photograph, ID number, registration number and assigned stand number.

When approached by law enforcement, including the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), traders will be required to present the smart card as evidence of compliance.

Approved traders will also be allocated stalls within designated trading zones throughout the CBD. Each stall area will be clearly marked by yellow square blocks, representing official trading spaces where permitted vendors can operate.

Formalising the informal sector

The city’s move to register and regulate informal traders comes as part of broader efforts to restore order and accountability in Johannesburg’s bustling inner city. The High Court’s directive aims to balance economic inclusion for informal traders with the city’s responsibility to maintain clean, safe and well-managed trading environments.

Once fully implemented, the system is expected to bring greater organisation to the informal trading sector, reducing conflicts over trading spaces while ensuring that all vendors operate legally and under fair, transparent regulations.