One of the biggest challenges Johannesburg faces is the informal trading that has mushroomed in almost every corner of the CBD.
In order to tackle this, economic development MMC Nkuli Mbundu says the city has to be unapologetic in implementing by-laws.
Lulama Mali, an informal trader in the CBD for 27 years, said she had been moved at least three times over the years, with the JMPD telling them to move locations as their areas of trade were restricted.
A new informal trading policy is currently being drafted.
According Mbundu, the policy has designated areas where informal traders can trade and those found trading in illegal areas or without permits will be arrested.
“Informal trading is sprawling all over the pavements of Johannesburg and we have to clean that up. A city will not function with informal trade everywhere.
“But we have to do this in a regulated way [where there are] designated spaces so at least by-laws are effected. What precedes this is a sound informal trading policy that takes into account the needs of the people on the ground but also the needs of the people [formal business] at the top,” Mbundu said.
Mbundu said the city had to make things easy for businesses in order grow Joburg’s economy.
He said this included having a consistent electricity supply.
“We have to eliminate red tape and create an accessible government. We have to make the city business-friendly.
“The ease of doing business relates to our responsiveness as a city. When you want building plans as a developer, you need to get them within a reasonable time and it shouldn’t take 18 months to get building plans.
Mali, a member of the Johannesburg Informal Traders Platform said the city had failed licenced traders.
“The city is uncontrollable. I’ve been moved from one corner to the other as areas got restricted. They decide which areas to restrict without consulting us.
Mali said the city needed to introduce a 90/10 system where 90% of allocated trading space would be given to citizens while 10% was given to legal foreign nationals.
Movements such as #OperationDudula and #PutSouthAfricaFirst that have targeted illegal foreign nationals have been met with mixed views.
Mbundu said the sovereignty of SA ,and by association the sovereignty of Joburg, was under threat.
“Let’s put reserve sectors for South Africans so that when foreigners come, they must provide scarce critical skills that will enhance the economy but not to cross the border to come and give birth and utilise our healthcare facilities when they don’t pay tax and burden the system like that,” Mbundu said.
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