TZANEEN – The battle between illegal street vendors and the Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) shows no signs of ending, as ongoing efforts to remove unauthorised traders continue to prove ineffective.

Despite conducting frequent, unscheduled raids, the municipality, in collaboration with law enforcement officials, has been unable to permanently displace illegal vendors. Although vendors are removed temporarily, they quickly return to their trading spots.

According to GTM media liaison officer Vutivi Makhubele, more than 200 street vendors currently operate illegally in Tzaneen’s CBD, while only 75 legal trading sites are demarcated by the municipality.

Danie Joubert Street, in particular, has become overrun with informal traders, including fruit and vegetable sellers, photographers, hairstylists, cellphone technicians, and clothing vendors.

In front of Jet clothing store, hairstylists have transformed pedestrian walkways into makeshift salons, forcing shoppers to navigate around clients seated in their path.

Adding to the congestion, foreign-owned clothing shops have placed mannequins outside their entrances, further obstructing pedestrians.

Some of these shops also violate municipal by-laws by playing loud music with speakers placed on the sidewalks.

A similar situation is unfolding along the R71 road, where vendors have erected wooden shacks selling fruit in designated no-hawking zones.

The GTM’s by-laws clearly state that traders must obtain a permit from the municipality. Vendors must also keep their trading areas clean and not obstruct pedestrian movement which is prohibited in parking areas. The use of megaphones, loudspeakers, shouting, or singing to promote goods is strictly forbidden.

Despite these regulations, enforcement appears weak, with vendors flouting the rules in full view of municipal offices and the police station.

For years, the municipality has promised to establish a designated trading area for legal vendors, but this has yet to materialise.

In response to ongoing complaints, Makhubele stated that another unannounced raid was planned for Wednesday, February 5, in collaboration with law enforcement.

Readers are invited to share their experiences navigating the CBD by emailing emelda@herald.co.za.