Informal Traders Battle City of Joburg in Court

rg in Court

Matshediso Selebeleng

...accusing officials of violating their right to earn a living after a mass removal during the city’s “clean-up” campaign

The Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) on Friday took the City of Joburg to court over the removal of informal traders from the Central Business District (CBD). The traders, represented by SERI, claim their removal is unlawful and violates their constitutional right to earn a living. The traders are calling on the court to declare their removal unlawful as it is violating their constitutional rights to earn a living. This comes after the city removed hundreds of Informal traders during a campaign to “clean up” the CBD in October. The traders were removed by the city’s officials and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and were told to apply for permits by the city. Mayor of City of Joburg Dada Morero stated that the city is removing informal traders to allocate them to designated areas where they can trade in a cleaner environment. He emphasized the city’s willingness to support small businesses through training and provision of stalls. “By the way, the rentals the city requires are so small, we help them in a whole of other things, in training because we do invest in small businesses by giving them stalls and giving them training. “The City is also willing to work to an ex Informal traders protest outside the Johannesburg High Court on Friday. Photo: Yfm tent at which we can even organize bigger malls that can be allocated to small traders as long they are not on the pavements and not taking our streets and making it difficult for motorists and pedestrians to walk and move,” he said. Morero added that they have done that already, where they allocated 155 in Noord by issuing them with smart cards, he said they are continuing to do so to manage the environment much better. Informal traders, however, argue that the city’s actions are unfair and leave them without income or food for their families. Many traders have been operating in the CBD for years and claim the city’s permit system is flawed and corrupt. The court hearing was marked by protests outside the courtroom, with groups supporting and opposing the city’s decision. Operation Dudula supported the city’s bylaw enforcement, while the EFF backed the traders. The court is expected to deliver its judgment in the coming days, which will deter mine the fate of the informal traders and the city’s efforts to regulate street trading in the CBD.