Johannesburg informal traders

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Permits, Protests and Power | Inside Johannesburg’s battle over informal trade

Johannesburg’s inner city has become the epicentre of a growing clash between economic survival and public safety, with thousands of livelihoods at stake. What began as a protest in the CBD last Thursday has since escalated into a series of tense engagements between informal trader representatives and the City of Johannesburg. At the heart of the dispute are allegations of harassment, unlawful confiscation of goods and what traders describe as […]

todayFebruary 25, 2026 31

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City of Johannesburg and informal traders clash over by-law enforcement

Protests erupted outside the Johannesburg High Court on Friday as informal traders and political parties clashed with the City of Johannesburg over its by-law enforcement operations. The City recently removed traders from the CBD, citing efforts to reclaim Johannesburg from lawlessness and urban decay, while traders say the clean-up has deprived them of their livelihoods. A heavy police presence was deployed outside the court as tensions mounted between political parties […]

todayOctober 31, 2025 91

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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 […]

todayOctober 24, 2025 2535 2