Clampdown on illegal traders in Sunnyside
“Unauthorised traders set up their stalls anywhere they like and sometimes will block pedestrians from using the sidewalks.”
Sunnyside police, together with the Tshwane metro police, Sunnyside CPF and other stakeholders, embarked on a massive clean-up drive to enforce law and order in the area.
The drive, officially called Social Crime Prevention Operation, took place after informal traders trading without permits flouted municipal by-laws by blocking the sidewalks with their stock, dumping garbage on the pavement and blocking the entrances to formal businesses.
The operation saw the metro police focusing on by-laws and the police on social crimes.
“We had to apply an integrated approach where we brought in partners on board,” said Sunnyside station commander Brigadier Matshidiso Kgoadi.
“This means working together with our community members through the CPF. It also means working together with the metro police.”
She said working with the metro police was crucial.
“Most hawkers trading without licences abandoned their stock and ran away when they saw the police enforcing by-laws.”
Unauthorised informal traders popping up in the area led to a situation where people could not freely walk on the sidewalks.
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Tensions would often erupt between authorised and unauthorised informal traders.
“Unauthorised traders set up their stalls anywhere they liked and sometimes would block pedestrians from using the sidewalks,” said Mary Ngema, the secretary of an informal traders’ organisation named Tshwane Barekisi Forum.
“They would also charge incredibly low prices which kills our business,” Ngema said.
Ward 59 councillor Shaun Wilkinson and ward 81 councillor Mpho Lewele attended the operation.
Wilkinson commended the Sunnyside station commander and described her as a hard worker.
“She held meetings with all relevant stakeholders in the area and as a result of those meetings, this much-needed operation took place,” he said.
Lewele said the operation was important because it brought law and order to Sunnyside.
“It helps us bring Sunnyside to its former glory.”
Godzilla Protection unit manager Sibusiso Moloyi said participating in the operation was important in reducing crime.
CPF spokesperson Caroline Oyiya said the CPF hoped that the operation discouraged unauthorised hawkers from disobeying by-laws and criminals from committing crimes.
Legal informal trader Ezekiel Ndundu said he supported the operation.
“It is good to see law enforcement agencies doing their job,” he said.
He said it was important for all informal traders to follow the law.
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