Formalising street trading
The Benoni Chamber of Commerce and Industries joint forces with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality to try formalise and restrict illegal street trading in the Benoni CBD.
Yellow blocks have been painted onto the pavement of Voortrekker Street, where street vendors can occupy a block to sell their goods.
According to Vusi Mabanga, EMPD spokesperson, this process is in compliance with Business Act of 1991, Ekurhuleni Metro Street Trading By Laws and Policy on the Management of Informal and Street Trading.
“This provision of approved and demarcated blocks for traders is part of the plan to allow limited and controlled street trading activity,” added Mabanga.
“Each hawker had to first comply with the metro’s criteria and requirements before being allowed to trade in a demarcated block,” said Mabanga.
He added that after this entire process, a trading permit will be issued to the various traders.
Benoni Chamber of Commerce and Industries president, Mohammad Essop, says the chamber initiated this idea to try and improve the infrastructure of the CBD.
Essop added that the entire process consists of two phases; the first phase of demarcation has been completed and the second phase to ensure that traders don’t take each others blocks is currently underway.
He added that in the in the interest of all business people, some boxes had to be remarked, because the loading zones for some businesses were being blocked off.
“I’ve got to much stock for this small block, but the advantage is that no one else can occupy my space, and I don’t have to pay for selling here,” said street trader Thapelo Ratefane.
