Bedfordview residents are seeking a permanent and sustainable solution for the beadwork sellers outside the Village View Shopping Centre, whose goods keep being confiscated by the EMPD.

One resident, Zeza da Costa of Zeza’s Rescues, who was driving past the area on November 19, noticed the EMPD taking the beadwork and loading it into a minibus.

“They almost seemed to be hiding from the public. When I turned around, they were gone.”

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Da Costa said the beadwork sellers told her the EMPD had taken their goods to Elsburg. They were told that they needed to pay a fine because they needed a permit.

Da Costa said, “Their work looks pretty, and it enlightens this area. It is also what tourists want, and it brings people and business here.

Plus, this is their hard work; they’re not criminals. They sit here all day trying to sell their goods, and then the EMPD takes away their stuff. The EMPD should stop targeting helpless people for money.”

Another concerned resident, Kaylene Ferreira, said the last time the EMPD came was about two months ago.

When Ferreira stopped by to talk to them, they allegedly said to her, “Do you want us to lock you up? Do you want us to impound your car?” Ferreira recalls 15 officers confronting her at that moment.

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Ferreira posted on the private Facebook community page to ask whoever was complaining to the police to come forward, have a proper discussion, and stop hiding.

The post garnered over 40 comments from group members showing support for the beadwork sellers.

One of the beadwork sellers said they used to have a permit, which they lost in 2018. The Village View Management agreed that the vendors could use that portion of the Village View property to sell their goods.

He said there was no pavement back then, but the Village View Management installed one.

He mentioned that the management had always paid the beadwork sellers’ fines at the metro police department.

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A second seller added that the police might come at any moment and confiscate their stock, then tell the sellers their superiors sent them.

“I buy material, then make the beadwork myself. Everything I do is to feed my family. The money to be paid is R640, but it increases per day if you don’t pay up.”

Village View Shopping Centre Management said they once offered the vendors a space in the basement, but they said their customers would not see them. Recently, the management gave the vendors umbrellas to shelter them from the rain.

“The pavement belongs to the municipality, and we don’t have control over the street outside our fence. We even tried to get a permit, but failed because the municipality said that it’s a street used by pedestrians.”

EMPD spokesperson Kelebogile Thepa said a trader is required to apply for a trading permit and not be in contravention of the municipal bylaws or the laws stipulated in the NRTA 93/1996.

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“The applicant must visit the Customer Care Centre, Economic Development desk, and fill in an application for trading on a public road/road reserved for trading.

“The application will be circulated to the EMPD to verify the suitability in terms of safety, and other departments for comments,” Thepa explained.

She added that if there is no objection, the Economic Development will issue a street trading permit within 21 days to the trader. The trading permit is valid for 12 months and is renewable at a fee of R231.

The applicant must submit a copy of his/her identity document and proof of address, plus the name of a secondee who will be available in case the applicant is not on site.

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Thepa listed the following as reasons why one’s application may be rejected:
1. No identification and proof of address.
2. In the case of foreign nationals, no valid documentation to be in the country.
3. The place is unsuitable for trading, and applicants are advised to look for a suitable place to be recommended.
4. An applicant who applies for more than one spot to trade.
5. If such trading is in contravention of the bylaws of any department of the city or legislation in terms of the NRTA 93/1996.

Thepa said the confiscation of goods is the last resort. The illegal trader is first warned and informed about the process as outlined above. If he/she continues to trade illegally, they will get a fine for the second time. If he/she is found for the third time, confiscation takes place with more penalties.

The spokesperson also warned that where an illegal trader is found for the second time after being warned, confiscation may take place to ensure that they collect their goods they collect their goods after being issued a fine.

She said the reason for not fining them on the spot is to avoid being furnished with false information.Thepa further said, “All of them are well-informed and educated about the processes and procedures. The only problem could be that they do not qualify because of the required documentation.”