Crackdown chaos: Joburg traders say city’s clean-up is destroying their livelihoods

Foreign national traders selling goods in the Johannesburg CBD have spoken out about alleged harassment and mistreatment by metro police, as well as by members of anti-migrant groups such as March and March and political parties including Operation Dudula and the Patriotic Alliance (PA). 

The traders claim these groups are enforcing bylaws against foreign nationals to gain votes ahead of next year’s elections.

This comes as the City of Johannesburg has embarked on cleaning operations and a crackdown on informal trading across the city in a bid to “restore it to its former glory.” Critics say the clean operations come as the city is set to host the G20 summit in November.

IOL News visited the CBD on Wednesday morning to speak with traders and monitor the clean-up operations currently under way.

Earlier this month, the city restarted its informal trader permit process in the inner city while simultaneously launching a clean-up programme. 

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has been deployed to clear informal traders from the streets.

Joburg mayor Dada Morero previously said there are between 20,000 and 25,000 informal traders operating across Johannesburg. 

Traders on De Villiers Street said JMPD officers began evicting them earlier this month. 

The city has since planted trees along the sidewalks where popular thrift stalls once stood.

When IOL News arrived at De Villiers Street, where shoppers often flocked to buy affordable, second-hand clothing, it found a surprising sight: the once-bustling “Dunusa” thrift market had been shut down.

Where traders once sold piles of used clothes, the city has now planted trees. 

More than ten JMPD vehicles were seen patrolling the area, while waste collection trucks cleared rubbish from the streets.

Some traders who remained expressed dissatisfaction with the city’s efforts to “reclaim” the CBD.

John Mathebula, a 46-year-old Mozambican street vendor who has been trading in Johannesburg for 23 years, alleged that metro police mistreated them.

“The JMPD does not treat us well. They harass us, they come without warning and throw away our goods, and we lose everything. We are just trying to make a living,” said Mathebula, a father of nine.

He said that although he holds a trading permit, officers have been forcing traders to leave the area.

“We are scared of them because they arrive without notice and force us out. They are evicting us away from the only thing that helps us put food on the table. That’s not cleaning the city. How are we supposed to survive?”

Mathebula, who stays at Orange Farm, warned that pushing people off the streets could lead to an increase in crime.

“If people are stopped from earning a living, some might turn to robbery or crime because they have no income.”

He also criticised the city’s priorities.

“They say they are cleaning the city, but there are still potholes and leaking pipes. Why not fix those first before evicting traders? We are not littering, we’re just trying to survive.”

Mathebula further alleged that anti-migrant groups such as March and March, along with Operation Dudula and the Patriotic Alliance (PA), are using bylaw enforcement as a political tool.

“Operation Dudula and those others don’t have enough support for the 2026 local elections. They come here and say they want all foreigners gone so they can get votes. Even if we leave, they have no plans for what comes next,” he said.

Mathebula said he holds a trading permit but did not have it with him during the interview. 

He added that he can make over R1,000 on a good day and up to R3,000 a month, depending on business.

Meanwhile, Maria Jaquim, 49, also from Mozambique, said she has been selling fruit and second-hand clothes in Johannesburg since 1997. She too accused the JMPD of harassment.

“Things are not going well. They come without notice, and some of us lose stock worth over R2,000,” she said.

Jaquim, who said she has raised four children through her street business, added, “I’ve been here for 27 years. My children go to school here, one even graduated from Unisa this year with an accounting degree. When they say foreigners must go, it hurts us.”

She said her trading permit, issued between 2006 and 2011, expired in 2016 and was never renewed despite attempts to do so.

“They told us to wait for messages, but we never got any. We don’t know if they are doing this to kill our businesses,” she said, adding that she makes between R600 and R1,000 on a good day,” said Jaquim, who stays in Valkfontein.

A walk through the area revealed a few traders still selling despite the strong metro police presence.

One shopper, a 25-year-old woman from Linden who refused to be named, said she welcomed the city’s clean-up efforts.

“It’s much better than before - you can actually see where you’re going. It’s less crowded, and with the police around, it feels safer,” she said.

Meanwhile, March and March founder, Jacinta Ngobese refused to respond to the allegations levelled against members of her movement.

“Argh write whatever you like honestly! It's clear you have an agenda,” Ngobese said in response to IOL News questions.

Questions have been sent to the JMPD, City of Johannesburg, Operation Dudula and Patriotic Alliance. However, no response had been received at the time of publication.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News