Informal traders who have found themselves unable to trade despite valid trading permits following the City of Johannesburg’s recent change to trading permits have slammed Mayor Dada Morero and his administration for depriving them of their livelihoods.

“I am one of the affected traders in the inner city, specifically the ones near the taxi rank in De Villiers Street, and other spots in the CBD. I recently took over from my late father, who passed away over two years ago. We have been paying the city or someone to trade on those streets. I have proof and account details that clearly show that someone has been eating and benefiting illegally from our payments.

“If that money was not going to the city for the so-called permits, we now face a predicament as stall owners. Some of us were educated and went to school through trading on the streets. My father traded in the city for nearly 20 years, now all of a sudden this happens while we have been paying money for permits to the city,” a trader who did not want to be named said.

This outcry comes as informal traders approached the Socio-Economic Right Institute of South Africa (SERI) to represent them in court over their recent removal in parts of the city.

On Tuesday, the Gauteng High Court, sitting in Johannesburg, postponed the matter to Tuesday, October 28, to allow the city to file its papers.

Traders with placards picketed outside the High Court, with some residents of the city centre saying the recent crackdown on informal trading must not affect livelihoods and must be properly regulated.

Early this month, the municipality implemented its clean-up and by-law enforcement programme as part of reclaiming the city,  introducing a new registration system aimed at regulating the more than 20,000 informal traders, which has resulted in the removal of unregistered informal traders operating without authorisation and outside designated areas.

SERI, through Edward Molopi, raised objections to recent amendments to city laws. Molopi stated that these changes have infringed upon the livelihoods of traders and violated their fundamental human and economic rights.

“We welcome the postponement of the matter between informal traders and the City of Johannesburg. The matter has been postponed, allowing the City of Johannesburg to file its papers. This matter is not new as it has been going on for a couple of weeks now, and the informal traders approached us with a request to represent them in taking the matter to court because they believe their rights have been infringed and their ability to earn an income has been affected,” Molopi stated.

Attempts to get a comment from the city were unsuccessful at the time of going to print.

However, on Monday, during a media briefing on the matter, Morero stated that the city will not back down on implementing its by-laws that target inner-city informal traders.

“The applicants alleged non-compliance, but we are clear that this claim is incorrect, and the city affirms its authority to enforce its by-laws provided these are perpetually fair. We will ensure we fully comply with the court. Enforcement is not part of the broader approach to empower traders and ensure inclusive economic growth. It can’t be perpetual that everyone wants to trade,” Morero had said.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

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