As the festive season approaches, informal traders who once sold their goods at Pan Africa Shopping Centre fear a bleak December.

For nearly three months, many have been out of work following city-led efforts to clean up the Wynberg precinct, which saw traders without permits removed from the walkways for being in contravention of municipal by-laws.

Read more: Alexandra traders fear eviction as councillor misses meeting

Initially, some believed the clampdown would be temporary, tied to the G20 leaders’ summit, but the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) has maintained its visibility in the area, making clear that the removals are permanent.

For traders like Rose Manganyi, the impact has been devastating. “It is Christmas, what will our grandchildren wear?”

Manganyi explained that the loss of income affects not only her but her unemployed children and their families. “We have children that are not even working, some of them have wives and children. So, when our means of income is tampered with, what will our children eat?”

Another trader, Selinah Mtshweni, said the past months have been marked by hardship and uncertainty. “This has hurt us a lot. Even the children do not eat anymore. We don’t know how we are going to pay rent now. We are living hard, because the Metro Police are here and keeping watch. Even if we try to sell elsewhere, they follow us there and remove whatever we are selling.”

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All she asks for is an opportunity to make a living. “December is here and we have to get our children Christmas presents, stationery, and back-to-school stuff. How will we do that without money?”

Their representative, Bongani Malema, admitted that traders lacked permits and were flouting by-laws, but argued that enforcement was selective and unfair. “By-laws have always been here. If they want to enforce them, they should have enforced them since the beginning. We have been selling here for more than five years and they want to tell us about the by-laws. It is painful.”

He said JMPD removed people from the corner of 3rd and 2nd Street, all the way to the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court. “They did not move everyone. That is the problem we have. We want to know why.” Malema said traders have run out of patience and will mobilise to air their concerns.

On the other hand, JMPD officers in the area said the clean-up has been welcomed by residents. People now feel safer walking in the precinct, free from pickpocketing and the congestion that once forced pedestrians into the road. They further noted that trading on walkways endangered residents, especially during peak hours, when pedestrians risked being hit by cars.

Alex News reached out to the JMPD for comment and will provide further details as soon as a response is received.

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