TZANEEN – The Tzaneen CBD has become increasingly impassable as the number of illegal street vendors continues to rise.

The Herald recently reported on the growing presence of vendors on Danie Joubert Street, a situation that appears to be worsening daily.

According to Vutivi Makhubele, media liaison officer for the Greater Tzaneen Municipality, there are currently more than 200 illegal street vendors operating in the town’s central business district, while the municipality has only 75 designated legal trading sites. Many vendors, both locals and foreigners, have turned to street trading due to high unemployment and the deteriorating economy, disregarding municipal by-laws in the process.

For years, the municipality has promised to establish a designated trading area for legal vendors, but these plans have yet to materialise, leaving many traders with no alternative but to operate illegally.

The situation has sparked debate on social media, with readers offering varying opinions on how to address the issue.

One reader, Aaron, commented, “It will be difficult to completely remove the sellers who are doing business in an area not designated for them. This is common across the continent, where vendors choose locations, they believe will bring them business. The best option would be to legalise them where they are. These vendors have voting power, and groups like SANCO will always support them. The high rate of unemployment has changed the South African landscape. Selling items like face masks outside clothing stores harms those businesses. It’s a Catch-22 situation: act and lose voters, or allow it to continue and risk businesses moving to safer areas like shopping malls, where there’s more control.”

Another reader, who wished to remain anonymous, emailed the Herald, saying, “This trend is common in towns across the country. It starts small, but over time it explodes. Look at Johannesburg’s CBD today, streets are completely hijacked by hawkers, and cars can’t pass. The question is, why are municipalities not enforcing bylaws? This issue should be elevated to the minister responsible for municipalities, SALGA, premiers, and mayors.”

In response to the growing complaints, Makhubele confirmed that the municipality had planned an unannounced raid to address the issue, but it has yet to take place.