Joburg informal traders demand restoration of livelihoods after permit revocation

INFORMAL traders who have found themselves unable to trade despite valid trading permits following the City of Johannesburg's recent change to trading permits have slammed Mayor Dada Morero and his administration for depriving them of their livelihoods.

- SIYABONGA SITHOLE

“I am one of the affected traders in the inner city, specifically the ones near the taxi rank in De Villiers Street, and other spots in the CBD. I recently took over from my late father, who passed away over two years ago. We have been paying the city or someone to trade on those streets. I have proof and account details that clearly show that someone has been eating and benefiting illegally from our payments.

“If that money was not going to the city for the so-called permits, we now face a predicament as stall owners. Some of us were educated and went to school through trading on the streets. My father traded in the city for nearly 20 years, now all of a sudden this happens while we have been paying money for permits to the city” a trader who did not want to be named said.