Fourways street vendors cry foul over JMPD stock confiscation

Street vendors selling on William Nicol Drive and Sunrise Boulevard in Fourways, are crying foul after officers of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) seized items that vendors sell on the side of the road. These items range from socks, chargers and charging cables, earrings, caps, cigarettes, sweets, and self-help body products, such as body lotion, roll-on, toothpaste, and a few other items.

JMPD officers were seen confiscating these street vendors’ items and packing them into metro police vehicles. The street vendors are alleged to have no permits to set up stalls on the side of the road and sell, and they are being accused of violating the city’s by-laws.

Reggie Mathule, a street vendor on the corner of William Nicol Drive and Sunrise Boulevard said, “I have been selling on this road for about 20 years now, but metro police officers often come here and take our stock, and they chase us away. Over the years, these people (JMPD) have confiscated so much of our hard-earned stock. We are not only sitting here selling, but we also deter criminals from smashing into motorists’ cars and stealing items within the car. But we are clearly not appreciated.”

When Fourways Review reporter asked Mathule why they do not seek permits from authorities in the city to sell on the side of the road, he said “I am a South African by birth. That should be enough for me to stand here and sell. I don’t litter and my presence on this road does not negatively affect anyone and there aren’t enough jobs, so I am creating employment for myself to be able to survive.”

The city’s by-laws on hawkers/vendors clearly state that ‘people must have permits to sell wherever the city deems appropriate. If, for example, you sell food, the city’s by-laws require that you apply for a licence from the Trade Licence Department and pay a once-off application fee. That is how the application process starts, and the city will consider environmental health, noise, air pollution, public safety, urban planning, and other factors – when deciding whether to grant the trading licence or not.

Xolani Fihla spokesperson for JMPD said, “Authorised officials may remove and impound any property of an informal vendor which they reasonably suspect is used, intended to be used, has been used for in connection with informal trading is restricted or prohibited.”

He added that officers have to provide the informal trader with a receipt for any property removed and impounded. The receipt must itemise in detail the property removed and impounded, and provide the address where the impounded property will be kept and the period of such impoundment; state the terms and conditions, impoundment costs to be paid by the informal trader concerned, and the terms and conditions for the release of impoundment property.

“If an informal trader feels in any way that they’ve been mistreated or their matter was unfairly handled, they can contact the JMPD Internal Affairs Unit by calling the Anti-Corruption Hotline at 0800 203 712, wherein members of the public can report any form of corruption and misconduct or go directly to the JPMD Internal Affairs Unit office at Village Main Road and Loveday Street, Wemmer. WhatsApp line
063 253 1928 has been introduced wherein the public may report any inappropriate acts by JMPD officials.”

Informal Traders are also encouraged to take note of the name of the official impounding the goods and the registration number of the vehicle used.

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