City of Johannesburg ordered to fast-track street trading permits

The South Gauteng High Court has mandated the City of Johannesburg to rapidly verify and process the registration of informal traders recently removed from their stalls in the bustling city centre. This judgment comes as a lifeline for many who rely on these informal trading opportunities to sustain their livelihoods.

The court has set a strict deadline of 21 days for the metropolitan municipality to complete the verification process, an order stemming from a legal action initiated by the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI). 

On Monday, the two parties returned to court over the recent removal of informal traders from their trading stalls on De Villiers Street, after the human rights organisation contended that the recent enforcement of municipal by-laws has unfairly targeted informal traders, violating their fundamental rights to trade and earn a living.

Scores of supporters, including traders and community activists, gathered outside the court on Monday, expressing their frustrations and hopes as the case unfolded. While some demonstrated solidarity with the City of Johannesburg, others voiced strong opposition to the by-law enforcement, emphasising the vital role these traders play in the local economy.

The tensions surrounding this matter have escalated since many informal traders were removed from their established spots on De Villiers Street and other sites in the central business district (CBD). The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) had begun strictly enforcing new trading regulations, impacting numerous traders who had been operating in these spaces for years.

Affected traders expressed their determination to reclaim their right to earn a living. "We are not going to back down from trading on De Villiers Street. We are selling clothes and are trying to make a living," said one trader, who wished to remain anonymous. "We need the city to allow us to do that and resolve our cries with speed so we can feed our families."

In a contrasting stance, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Department has reiterated its commitment to law enforcement, stating, "Illegal trading will not be tolerated in the city centre."

The JMPD has been actively removing both perishable and non-perishable goods from illegal traders, citing safety and traffic concerns. “Pushing trolleys on the road is illegal and dangerous as it obstructs the flow of traffic, endangers pedestrians, and puts the person pushing the trolley at risk of being struck by a vehicle," the department stated in a recent release.

The city, backed by operation Dudula, claims that these removals were necessary in order to clean up the inner city. However, the South African National Traders’ Retail Alliance slammed the removal of traders from De Villiers Street in the CBD as unlawful.

Attempts to get comment from the City of Johannesburg were unsuccessful.