City launches the first 40 Smart Card Trading Permit System to formalise trading.
Johannesburg’s new Smart Card Trading Permit system gives traders a path to formalise their businesses, with Fourways hawkers ready to regularise their operations.
In an effort to formalise and support the city’s informal trading sector, the City of Johannesburg has officially handed over the first 40 Smart Card Trading Permits at the Noord Street Market.
The city said the innovative Smart Card Permit System is designed to integrate traders into the city’s formal economic ecosystem, ensuring fair access to trading opportunities while boosting accountability and efficiency.
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The topic of formal permits was also raised by councillor Vino Reddy with informal traders in Fourways when they submitted a petition to him regarding their trading rights on October 27.
“I informed them about the Smart Permit system and explained the consequences of not being formally recognised as stallholders, which could open the way for new applicants to take over available spaces,” said Reddy.
One of the traders, Lindiwe Mothali, said she and her colleagues plan to apply for their new trading permits on October 29.
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“We, the hawkers in Fourways, have been removed from the spaces where we have traded for years. This has left us with no choice but to occupy areas that are not officially designated for trading,” said Mothali.
Mothali and a group of traders were removed from their trading spots during operations led by Foley and other authorities, including the Metro police, for trading on provincial roads, an action prohibited by law.
“Because we are willing to cooperate with any legislation, laws, rules, or regulations, we are going to apply for our Smart Permits as well,” added Mothali.
Foley reiterated that Winnie Mandela Drive, and Cedar, Witkoppen, and Main roads are all provincial roads, where trading is prohibited.
“We need to adhere to our city’s by-laws because that is for their [traders] safety as well. However, I will also go and receive their petition because other parts of where they are trading are in my ward,” said Foley.
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