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Residents, counsellors and political parties gather at Johannesburg High Court regarding the City’s implementation of trading policy by-laws, 31 October 2025.
The High Court in Johannesburg has ruled that the City of Johannesburg must immediately begin verification, registration, re-registration and allocation processes for informal traders who were removed from parts of the city center.
The Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) took the city to court on behalf of the informal traders last week, over the forced removals.
The city said they were operating illegally and in areas not designated for trading. Delivering judgment Judge Brad Wanless said the processes must start Tuesday.
“The first respondent the City of Joburg is to conduct an expedited verification, registration, re-registration and allocation process as contemplated by the informal trading by-laws dated 14 March 2012, local authority notices 328 read with the provisions of the local businesses Act 71 of 1991 as amended together with the regulations there to. The process shall commence on the 4th of November 2025 and shall be completed by no later than 18 November 2025,” says Judge Wanless.
SERI, which represents informal traders, has argued that the removals are in violation of the hawkers’ right to trade.
The city insists it is implementing by-laws and that this is part of efforts to reclaim the city and regulate trading.
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero says the verification process of street traders is crucial.
Morero says the city has proposed and made a commitment to go through a verification process because it is crucial to confirm that, indeed whoever is claiming to have been trading, needs to be confirmed whether they are eligible and is a South African citizen.
Video: SERI, COJ legal battle over informal trader removals continue
