By Thembi Moyo
The City of Johannesburg has stepped up efforts to bring order to the Inner City’s informal trading sector, launching a large-scale verification process to ensure that all street traders are operating legally. The move follows a recent court order directing the city to identify and verify traders working along De Villiers Street and surrounding areas.
On Thursday, November 6, Acting MMC for Economic Development Mlungisi Mabaso, who also serves as the MMC for Human Settlements, led an oversight visit to monitor progress. He was accompanied by the Acting Executive Mayor and the MMC for Development Planning.
Mabaso said the operation was part of the City’s broader plan to restore law, cleanliness, and accountability in Johannesburg’s trading spaces. “We are here today to comply with a court directive that requires us to verify all informal traders in this area,” Mabaso explained. “The court’s order supports our ongoing clean-up campaign and helps us ensure that every trader on our streets has a valid permit and operates within the law.”
He expressed concern about growing evidence that some South Africans who had been granted trading permits were leasing their stalls to foreign nationals, which violates city regulations. “This practice is unacceptable,” he said. “People must operate their own stalls instead of renting them out. We want everyone who trades in Johannesburg to do so legally, responsibly, and in line with the city’s policies.”
The verification campaign, which began earlier this week, has not received the expected turnout. Out of 525 traders identified by the court, only 71 had presented themselves for verification by Thursday morning. Officials believe that many traders are avoiding the process because they lack proper documentation.
To assist with the process, the Department of Home Affairs’ immigration unit has been deployed to help verify the identity and legal status of traders operating in the Inner City. “The low turnout is worrying,” the Acting Executive Mayor said. “It may be that many people on the list are undocumented and fear the verification process. But this exercise is necessary to bring order and safety back to our city.”
During the inspection, officials also found that some traders who were meant to operate at designated stalls had moved their activities indoors, using shops and corridors as makeshift selling spaces. Mabaso said this contributes to congestion, crime, and poor sanitation in the Inner City. “If you walk through De Villiers Street, you can see how dirty and overcrowded it has become,” Mabaso said. “We cannot allow lawlessness to continue. Johannesburg must be clean, safe, and organised.”
The City plans to continue operations over the next two weeks, working closely with law enforcement, immigration officials, and local business associations. A major clean-up and enforcement drive is scheduled for next week as part of the City’s high-impact service delivery programme, which aims to improve infrastructure, restore order, and reduce illegal trading.
“This is not an overnight project,” Mabaso added. “We will remain on the ground until we get it right. Once we bring order to the Inner City, we’ll extend this approach to other parts of Johannesburg.”
Traders who wish to continue operating legally have been urged to report to the MTN Taxi Rank, where the official verification and registration process is under way. Those who fail to comply risk losing their trading spaces.Local residents and business owners have welcomed the City’s action, saying the clean-up will make the area safer and more accessible.
“The streets were too crowded and dirty,” said one shop owner nearby. “If this operation can help bring order and safety, then we support it.” Mabaso concluded by calling on residents, traders, and the media to work together with the City in rebuilding Johannesburg’s Inner City. “We want a Johannesburg that is fair, lawful, and clean a city that works for everyone,” he said.