13 hours ago
Law vs livelihood: JMPD removes informal traders from Winnie Mandela Drive
The streets between Winnie Mandela Drive and Boulevard Road, just before Fourways Mall, are usually bustling with activity, and it is all thanks to the informal traders who call this spot their workplace.
That all changed on June 19 when JMPD officers swooped in, removing the informal traders and their stalls.
The move was based on a call to action from the Fourways Improvement District, a non-profit company, Fourways Mall, and Ward 94 councillor David Foley, who said it is for a very specific reason: 'It's against the law to trade on provincial roads.'
Also read: Informal traders, pointsmen, and traffic light tamperers, your days in Fourways are numbered
Foley said that the area is slated for a beautification project, aimed at making the spot more welcoming to the visitors and shoppers at Fourways Mall. 'We are planning to beautify the area with plants, so that it is welcoming for people who plan to come to the businesses. It will also be easier for officers to monitor the area.'
What does this mean for the informal traders who rely on this spot to make a living? Fatima Mashaba, from Diepsloot, said she started trading in the area in 2022. 'I don't know where to go because this is my only means of income. What is it that my kids are going to eat? I am aware it is against the law, because this is not the first time that the police came to remove us from the area, but there are no jobs. What can we do?'
Also read: Community funding initiative continues in order to fence off informal settlement
@caxtonjoburgnorth An informal trader on Winnie Mandela Drive and Boulevard Road in Fourways tries to negotiate if authorities can place them elsewhere to trade after being removed from the area. Video: Ditiro Masuku ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
She is not the only one, a second trader, who asked not to be identified, said the authorities should've issued them a warning about their visit, so that they could plan. 'It is not fair because it means today I did not make enough money. If they told us that they were coming, or said: 'Okay, today is your last day, tomorrow don't come here', it would've been better.'
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