Joburg issues smart permits to formalise informal trading in the CBD

Johannesburg informal traders say they can finally breathe a sigh of relief after being officially granted trading permits, ending months of alleged harassment by metro police.

In an effort to curb lawlessness and illegal trading, the City has issued the first batch of 40 smart trading permits in the CBD — each with a QR code that can only be scanned by authorised city officials to monitor compliance.

This comes after the recent removal of traders from inner-city streets over non-compliance concerns.

Traders gathered at the Noord Market near the busy MTN Taxi Rank on Friday, where city officials handed over the legal trading permits designating approved trading spots.

The City of Johannesburg said the move is part of efforts to formalise the informal economy and clean up the inner city through high-impact service delivery operations.

Some traders have welcomed the move but say it still excludes many who have been trading in the CBD for decades and don’t meet the city’s legal requirements. Trader Xolelwa Ndombe said getting the permit was not easy.

Friday’s handover follows a recent court challenge by informal traders who argued that the city’s by-law enforcement operations left many without a source of income.

Johannesburg Mayor, Dada Morero, said traders approved to begin operating at the Noord Market from Saturday have been thoroughly vetted.

Morero, together with the City’s MMC for Economic Development, Nomoya Mnisi, handed over the trading permits as part of the City’s ongoing effort to formalise and regulate the informal trading sector.

He added that the City remains committed to supporting informal traders — but insists that trading must take place in a lawful and orderly manner.

During the handover, Morero cautioned traders against renting out or selling their designated trading bays, warning that any misuse of permits would lead to immediate revocation.

The development comes amid a legal dispute between some traders and the City, with traders claiming that by-law enforcement operations have stripped them of their livelihoods.

Morero said the City will not be intimidated and is prepared for Tuesday’s court hearing.

As the hearing approaches, both sides say a settlement remains possible — but only if the City demonstrates genuine willingness to engage with traders and their representatives.

The City continues to conduct intensified by-law enforcement operations in the inner city, targeting illegal trading as part of its broader campaign to reclaim Johannesburg from lawlessness and urban decay.

INFORMAL TRADING: The City of Joburg’s Department of Economic Development is proud to announce a historic milestone in the regulation and empowerment of the informal trading sector. Smart cards will now replace informal trading permits to enable law-abiding traders to conduct… pic.twitter.com/ScdiWSaIHk

— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) October 24, 2025

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe