THE COURT RULING REGARDING STREET VENDORS AND BY-LAWS
ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA
THE COURT RULING REGARDING STREET VENDORS AND BY-LAWS
The City of Johannesburg’s MMC for Public Safety, Councillor Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, acknowledges the judgment delivered by Judge Brad Wanless concerning the City’s management of informal trading. The ruling directs the City to undertake a swift, transparent, and legally compliant process to verify, register, and allocate trading spaces to informal traders in full adherence to municipal by-laws and national legislation.
The court emphasized that this process must uphold fairness, non-discrimination, and constitutional compliance. MMC Tshwaku reiterates the department’s continued support for street traders while highlighting the critical need to maintain law and order. “De Villiers Street had become a potential risk area due to uncontrolled crowds, escalating crime, litter accumulation, and the presence of undocumented foreigners posing security concerns,” said MMC Tshwaku.
The ruling also recognizes the significant economic contribution of informal traders to Johannesburg’s economy and confirms the City’s role as a regulator, rather than a prohibitor, of this vital sector. MMC Tshwaku welcomes the opportunity to participate in the diligent implementation of the court order and to ensure the City fully upholds the legal framework governing informal trading.
The Department of Public Safety, through the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and Emergency Management Services (EMS), will lead a community outreach programme to inform traders and the public that goods in compliance with the law will not be confiscated.
Informal traders wishing to obtain a permit are invited to participate in the verification and registration process as follows:
• Date: 04 November 2025
• Time: 09:00 – 16:00
• Venue: 66 Jorissen Place, Ground Floor, Opportunity Centre, Braamfontein
Eligibility requirements:
Applicants must present originals and copies of the following documents:
1. South African citizens: Green bar-coded ID or Smart Card ID (subject to verification by the Department of Home Affairs).
2. All applicants (18 years and older): Valid ID, Passport, Asylum Seeker Permit, and/or Refugee Permit.
3. Non-South African citizens: Valid passport with a visa authorizing business operation under the Immigration Act, 2002, or an Asylum Seeker Permit issued under the Refugees Act, 1998.
4. Additional required documents:
• Proof of residence (Municipal bill or landlord affidavit)
• Lease agreement issued by the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC)
• Proof of payment of rent to JPC
• Certificate of Acceptability from Environmental Health
• Fire certificate issued by EMS
Only applicants meeting all legal and regulatory requirements will be registered and allocated trading spaces in line with the court order and municipal by-laws.
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