Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero has denied claims that the city is forcibly removing informal street vendors from the city centre in violation of the traders’ rights.

The mayor claims that the city was merely enforcing by-laws and removing vendors from unauthorised trading spaces.

His comments come ahead of a legal court battle between the city and the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) in the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday next week over this matter.

Morero believes SERI does not have a case against the city.

“So, we have not removed anyone, they are going to lose the case because no one was evicted and, the traders that have committed and are legit and are trading in the right places, in the markets that the city had long traded in, are trading, including those whose tenants have expired, we are helping them to get their tenants removed. In fact, today we will issue out those that have committed smart cards so that we can manage the trading,” adds Morero.

Earlier today , JMPD, in collaboration with SAPS, the Department of Home Affairs, and CPF Patrollers, executed a decisive multi-disciplinary operation on De Villiers Street in the CBD. This operation targeted illegal trading & immigration law violations. pic.twitter.com/l8ur3sh8uz

— Executive Mayor of the City Of Joburg (@DadaMorero) October 23, 2025