The City of Johannesburg’s Department of Economic Development (DED) has conducted an extensive assessment of informal trading conditions across the inner city. It started at the Johannesburg Art Gallery and forms part of the City’s ongoing efforts to clearly identify streets where informal trading is permitted and those where it is prohibited.
The inspection, led by Executive Mayor Cllr Dada Morero and Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Group Corporate and Shared Services Cllr Sithembiso Zungu, covered key parts of the inner city, beginning at Klein Street and extending through Pritchard Street up to the High Court precinct. The team further assessed the Legislature Precinct, where numerous instances of illegal trading were observed.
Additional streets visited included Rahima Moosa, President Street, Plein Street, Lilian Ngoyi Street, Wanderers Street and several others forming part of the broader inner-city network.
Mayor Morero said while they recognise that many people turn to informal trading out of economic desperation, this cannot happen in a manner that is unsafe, unregulated or unfair to traders who follow the rules. The City cannot allow lawlessness to take root under the guise of economic survival.
“What is required now is a firm but balanced approach. DED must strengthen enforcement against illegal operations while, at the same time, fast-tracking the formalisation of informal traders through proper permits, designated trading sites and support programmes.
“We also need closer coordination between DED, JMPD and other relevant departments to ensure sustained compliance, not once-off operations. Our inner city must be orderly, safe and economically inclusive,” said Morero.
MMC Zungu said there is no place for lawlessness in Johannesburg. “By-law enforcement is being intensified, compliance is non-negotiable, and order will be restored.”
The Department of Economic Development’s Patson Khosa said early observations indicate significant challenges, including traders operating in non-demarcated areas, incidents of disorder, crime and general uncleanliness. “These issues are being urgently addressed as part of the City’s broader strategy to restore order and ensure compliance with by-laws.”
The city anticipates completing the full inner-city mapping exercise within the coming weeks. This process is critical to creating an orderly, safe and well-regulated trading environment that supports both economic activity and urban management.
Written by Zingiswa Mndayi