High Court orders City of Johannesburg to verify and register informal traders
The City of Johannesburg has maintained that the informal traders were operating illegally and outside the areas designated for trading.
Image: Simon Majadibodu/IOL
The High Court in Johannesburg has directed the City of Johannesburg to commence verification, registration, and allocation processes for informal traders who were forcibly removed from the city centre. The decision comes after the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) represented the traders in a recent court case, challenging the legitimacy of their eviction.
Judge Brad Wanless directed the city to start the procedures by Tuesday, November 4, 2025, and finish them by November 18, 2025. The ongoing arguments about whether informal trading in designated areas is legal are resolved by this ruling.
The City of Johannesburg has maintained that the informal traders were operating illegally and outside the areas designated for trading.
Conversely, SERI has argued that these removals violate the basic rights of hawkers to earn a living and participate in economic activities. The organisation has firmly contended that the right to trade is essential for the livelihoods of many who depend on informal commerce within the bustling urban landscape.
In his ruling, Judge Wanless specified that the verification process must align with the informal trading bylaws established on March 14, 2012, as well as the local businesses Act 71 of 1991. This compliance is aimed at ensuring that all traders are registered appropriately and guided by the city’s regulations.
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero expressed support for the verification process, acknowledging its importance in establishing the eligibility of the traders. “We are committed to confirming the status of all individuals claiming to be traders. This verification is essential to ensure that we are working with lawful South African citizens,” Morero stated, highlighting the city’s effort to regulate trading practices and reclaim the city centre.
The court ruling has marked a significant moment for the informal traders in Johannesburg, who have long been fighting for recognition and rights amid stringent urban management policies.