The City of Johannesburg has welcomed a recent judicial decision in the ongoing informal traders matter, acknowledging the court’s ruling to refer the dispute to mediation. Previously,The Starreported that the Gauteng High Court had instructed the city to fast-track the verification, registration, and allocation of informal traders who were removed from inner-city trading areas. That process, scheduled to run from November 4 to 18, was aimed at ensuring compliance with municipal bylaws and restoring lawful trading for qualifying traders.
reported that the Gauteng High Court had instructed the city to fast-track the verification, registration, and allocation of informal traders who were removed from inner-city trading areas. The court also ordered the city and trader representatives, including the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI), to enter into mediation to resolve disputes over trading rights and designated spaces. The ruling comes amid ongoing tensions following the city’s crackdown on traders operating outside designated areas.
While the city maintains that enforcement is necessary to uphold order, safety and municipal regulations, affected traders argue that the measures infringe on their constitutional right to earn a living. The mediation process is intended to strike a balance between lawful regulation and the protection of traders’ economic rights. The City said it respects the court’s call for dialogue and confirmed its commitment to participating in the mediation process.
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It further revealed that the matter was referred to mediation before former Deputy Judge President Phineas Mojapelo following submissions by its legal team. “Pursuant to submissions made by the City’s legal counsel, the Court directed that the matter be referred to mediation before former Deputy Judge President Phineas Mojapelo, who has already been appointed to mediate a similar dispute arising from an application instituted by the South African Informal Traders Forum and other traders in October 2025. The city is encouraged by the court’s decision to refrain from interfering with the lawful exercise of the city’s powers,” the city said.
The city reiterated that while it recognises the significant economic role played by informal traders, all trading must comply with municipal bylaws to ensure order, safety, and security. It stressed that trading is permitted only for authorised permit holders, in allocated stalls and designated areas, adding that the December 23 legal proceedings underscored the importance of compliance and constructive engagement.
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