CoJ cracks down on an unauthorised informal trader in Joburg CBD

The City of Johannesburg has cracked down on an informal trader in the inner city who was selling clothing items and food at the same stall without proper authorisation.

Human Settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso is spearheading an operation to remove traders who continue to operate without valid trading permits.

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This initiative is part of the city’s effort to regulate the informal trading sector by ensuring all traders operate within designated zones approved by the municipality.

The Gauteng High Court has given the city until 18 November to register and verify its informal traders.

Johannesburg CBD’s famous De Villiers Street was once home to a place informally known as Dunusa, well-known for its second-hand clothing stalls.

Although the city removed the illegal informal traders in October, some have since returned and resumed selling without permits.

On Thursday, city officials discovered one stall where clothing and fruit were being sold on the same counter.

When authorities attempted to apprehend some of the workers who couldn’t provide immigration documents, they fled the scene.

“What we are discovering on the ground is concerning because some of those that have obtained permits are sub-letting stalls to [illegal] foreign nationals,” said Mabaso.

Many other traders quickly closed their shops upon seeing a large group of officials approaching.

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