Ekurhuleni Support Street Traders

Informal traders across the City of Ekurhuleni can now apply to have their trading permits and business licenses renewed at the nearest Customer Care Centres. The city is on the drive to assist the business operators to comply with the trading requirements by offering support and other relevant business information.    

Formal and informal business entities that sell perishable food are required by law to obtain trading permit or business licence to guarantee safety of their consumables. 

A shortage of new job opportunities has led many communities who have been unable to enter the formal job market, to look at street trading as an alternative to generate an income.

Divisional Head for Business Compliance and Regulations Mpho Nche said applications to obtain business licences as well as Trading Permits in order to operate a business within the City of Ekurhuleni are available at all Customer Care Centres.

“We would like to urge street traders and spaza shop owners to apply for the permits in order to conduct their business in a legal way. We are still on the planning phase of rolling out community workshops to further enlighten business owners on the municipal by-laws and what the city requires when trading.

“We would also be announcing the partnership that the city has formed with the Department of Small Business Development that aims to incentivise street traders and business entities that comply with these requirements.

“The municipal by-laws require business operators to understand the law governing street trading in order to avoid infringement and create order in the City,” says Nche.