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Informal trading stores are seen in the Johannesburg CBD on 20 October 2025.
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero has committed to restoring law and order in the city by enforcing municipal by-laws in the metro.
Morero addressed the media in Johannesburg on issues affecting the inner city. He says officials are in full support of informal traders; however, the current situation in the city has led to overcrowding.
He says they have made strides in reclaiming public spaces in the inner city.
Morero estimates that there are over 25 000 informal traders in the city and says people cannot do as they please.
“While we accept that progress has been made, however, there are still challenges of illegal trading and obstruction of public spaces that still persist. Therefore, our enforcement operations will continue. And should not be seen as a punitive measure but as a restoration measure.”
Morero says a lack of enforcement has created serious problems for the city, where pedestrian pathways are blocked and the city is left dirty.
City of Joburg Economic Development MMC Nomoya Mnisi says the operation is part of efforts to complete a verification and registration process of all informal traders in the inner city and surrounding areas.
“We are not only doing this operation here in the inner city. We have also started in Jabulani. If you go to Jabulani, we see now our pavements are clear – there’s some breath of fresh air there. So, we have about 50 stalls there, though we have received applications of around 100, we will be allocating traders there to start trading in Jabulani. On the issue of what is permitted to be sold on the streets in the CBD? It is only the South African Police Service that can warrant a person to sell second-hand clothes. So, in our bylaws, no one is allowed to sell second-hand clothes because you must also produce a permit or a receipt of where you got the clothes.”
However, the operation has landed the city in hot water as it now prepares itself for a legal battle.
The city has urged informal traders to apply for permits and operate legally.
♦️ HAPPENING NOW ♦️
JMPD BMU is on the ground monitoring Lilian Ngoyi and Eloff Streets, ensuring by-law compliance and keeping the area clear of illegal hawkers to maintain order and cleanliness in the Inner City.#NomakanjaniManjeNamhlanje #AskPublicSafetyMMC pic.twitter.com/AFao1fwroV
— COJ People’s MMC Public Safety (@PublicSafetyMMC) October 20, 2025
