With a court battle imminent, the mayor of Joburg remains steadfast in upholding the bylaws

Mayor Dada Morero has stated that the city will not back down from implementing its by-laws that target inner-city informal traders, ahead of a legal battle between the city and the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI).

In the city's continuous effort to reclaim Johannesburg from urban decay and lawlessness, Morero and his team led a high-impact by-law enforcement operation a week ago to restore law and order in the inner city.

As a result, some of the informal traders have been forced out of their livelihoods as the city cracks down on non-compliance amid challenges with trading permits.

On Monday, Morero addressed the media over its intention to continue enforcing by-laws across the city, saying: "The city has embarked on a series of by-law enforcement measures to ensure a clean and safe inner city for all. We want to put to the media that there is a pending High Court case brought against the city.

"The applicants alleged non-compliance, but we are clear that this claim is incorrect, and the city affirms its authority to enforce its by-laws provided these are perpetually fair. We will ensure we fully comply with the court. Enforcement is not part of the broader approach to empower traders and ensure inclusive economic growth. It can't be perpetual that everyone wants to trade."

Morero further indicated that the informal economy remains an important part of the city's economic growth.

He addressed the media over challenges faced by the city to enforce by-laws, which have seen some traders and trade slots being removed from parts of the city due to non-compliance.

Morero said the city is serious about reclaiming urban spaces, which is why it has planted trees on the sidewalk, where the popular thrift stalls were located.

However, Edward Molopi, who represents informal traders against the city in the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, stated that the move has affected scores of traders whose livelihoods have been impacted by the crackdown.

"The informal traders have approached us to take the matter to court tomorrow (Tuesday). The instruction that we have received is that they would like to have a reinstatement to their trading spots. The important thing to note is that the informal traders have always wanted to engage in order to trade in the city legally.

"However, they have not been able to do so for close to a decade, as they are unable to obtain those trading licences. This has forced them to trade illegally and in the absence of these permits, because the city has not been in a position to issue them out," Molopi said.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za