Latest news with #MarabastadRetailMarket
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Churches say closure of Marabastad market was a travesty of justice
The South African Union Council of Independent Churches supports the opening of Marabastad Retail Market after it was temporarily closed last week by the City of Tshwane. Image: Supplied/City of Tshwane The South African Union Council of Independent Churches (SAUCIC) has thrown its weight behind informal traders at the Marabastad Retail Market, warning that closing the market would be a "travesty of justice". The market, a vital economic hub supporting traders from neighbouring townships, was temporarily shut down by the City of Tshwane last week due to non-compliance issues. The Gauteng High Court intervened, issuing an order requiring traders to submit necessary applications to the city by August 8, 2025, effectively suspending the market's closure. SAUCIC welcomed the order, describing it as a conciliatory step towards resolving the impasse. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The organisation's President, Cardinal Archbishop Dr Modiri Patrick Shole highlighted the market's historical significance, noting that it survived the apartheid regime's efforts to destroy the livelihoods of marginalised communities. "Marabastad occupies a special place in the history of resistance against forced removals," he said. He said that it would have been 'a travesty of justice to see the closure of such a viable economic hub that is also supporting traders from neighbouring townships'. Shole praised the city's efforts to formalise the traders, citing the training of 49 food handlers and issuance of zoning rights. He emphasised the importance of compliance and enforcement to eliminate unethical business practices while promoting new investments and infrastructure development. He highlighted the importance of preserving the historic bonds and shared struggles of the Indian, Coloured and African communities in the area, noting that their cultural and religious diversity can serve as a catalyst for unity, nation-building, and social cohesion. SAUCIC's comment comes after the Unified South African Traders, a representative body for informal traders, vowed to resist future city crackdowns on non-compliant businesses. The organisation strongly criticised the city's decision to shut down the fresh produce market, arguing that the closure has had far-reaching negative impacts on both traders and the broader public across Tshwane's seven regions. This week MMC for Economic Development & Spatial Planning, Sarah Mabotsa, said the city is processing applications to help traders become compliant before the August 8 deadline. She explained that traders must attend a compulsory workshop on street trading, comply with fire, health, and safety regulations, and secure trading licenses in order to operate a business in Tshwane. Traders must also obtain a certificate of acceptability and complete health and safety training for food handling businesses.
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
High Court gives market traders until August 8 to apply
Following the Marabastad Retail Market shutdown last week, traders have since been ordered by the Gauteng Division of the High Court to submit their licensing applications by August 8. The court handed down the decision on July 31, after Mayor Nasiphi Moya led a by-law operation which led to the shutdown of the market. Over 30 applicants were listed on the court's order, and presiding Judge Elmarie van der Schyff said this decision was taken to ensure traders adhere to the metro's by-laws. 'All traders and occupants of the market are to submit any and all required applications to the City of Tshwane by no later than Friday, August 8. 'These submissions and applications are required to ensure compliance with any required legislation, by-laws, regulations, and policies which govern the City of Tshwane,' the judge said. Since the order was announced, MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning, Clr Sarah Mabotsa, has expressed gratitude for the High Court's decision. 'The Department of Economic Development and Spatial Planning reminds traders and businesses, and especially those businesses dealing with food products, that permission to trade or operate a business is not granted through a lease agreement between a landowner and a trader or business owner,' Mabotsa said. During the market's shutdown last week, the mayor said that the private entity leasing the property was illegally subleasing to vendors without any licenses to conduct business in the metro. The MMC says traders must attend a workshop before being able to trade in the city. 'Trading permits and compliance with fire and health safety are required for approved trading. [Permission] to trade or operate a business within the City of Tshwane requires applicants to attend a compulsory workshop on street trading in Tshwane,' Mabotsa said. Traders are required to bring the following for their licensing applications: – Certified copy of their identity document – A copy of their lease agreement for the trading space – The applicant must approach the Health Department and Fire Division to complete the compliance processes by paying for food handling training at the Health Department before the certificate of acceptability can be issued Any person seeking to trade must approach the Economic Development and Spatial Planning Department on the 3rd Floor, Middestad Building, to apply for trading permits. Applicants may also enquire by sending an email to [email protected] or calling Kehla Mzizi at 012 358 4425/4490. The fresh produce market has since been reopened after criticism of the metro's move to shut it down in the first place. The DA filed a motion during the July 31 council sitting to have the market reopened, and a thorough investigation done on the eligibility of traders to continue operations there. The debate and subsequent vote were shot down by the ANC, EFF, and ActionSA-led Tshwane Council. Watch here: This is the Marabastad Retail Market, a property of the City that has been hijacked. Today, we reclaimed it. This building was leased to an individual who then decided to sublease it to other people – breaching the terms of the contract with the City. Residents of Tshwane this… — Dr Nasiphi Moya (@nasiphim) July 25, 2025 Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
The Citizen
01-08-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Tshwane defends Marabastad Market shutdown
Following a recent business by-law operation in Marabastad, Mayor Nasiphi Moya has defended the metro's call to shut the Marabastad Retail Market. The markets of Marabastad are known for being home to a lot of bargain-hunting shoppers, however, the mayor says businesses have been operating without permits or by-law adherence for far too long. 'It is important to remind traders that by-laws exist to protect residents and business operations. 'The mayoral committee has taken a decision to accelerate its priority objective of maintaining a clean and safe city,' she said. Moya has said the retail market is a metro property that has been hijacked, and during the operation, it was reclaimed. The mayor said the building was leased to a person who then decided to sublease it to other people, breaking the terms of the contract with the city. SAPS and Home Affairs officials were also there checking the legal documentation of the traders. The metro plans to use this property to put back value into the market and make it available to credible investors who want to use it. 'Traders at the Marabastad Retail Market failed to produce trading permits as per the City of Tshwane's Street Trading By-Law and Business Act 71 of 1991. 'Trading without permits is illegal in the city, and that is why the Economic Development and Spatial Planning Department recommended that the Marabastad Retail Market should be closed,' Moya said. The mayor says that all traders were informed that they should contact municipal officials to be guided on the process to obtain trading permits. 'Permission to trade is not granted through a lease agreement between a landowner and a trader/business owner. Trading permits and compliance with fire and health safety are required for approved trading. 'The ability to trade or operate a business within the City of Tshwane requires applicants to attend a compulsory workshop on street trading in Tshwane,' she said. The operation resulted in the following: – 43 businesses were inspected. – 36 Section 56 notices were issued for contravention of the Business Act – 6 Section 56 notices were issued for contravention of the Street Trading By-Law – 16 building regulations contravention notices issued. – 1 Section 56 notice issued for contravention of fire safety by-law. – 2 contravention notices issued for fire safety. – 2 illegal electricity connections were disconnected. – 7 businesses were closed immediately on 11th and Boom Street. – 20 stalls were closed immediately. Any person seeking to trade in Tshwane must approach the Economic Development and Spatial Planning Department on the 3rd Floor, Middestad Building, corner Thabo Sehume and Pretorius Street, Pretoria Central, to apply for trading permits. 'The operation conducted in Marabastad forms part of our long-term strategy and will be carried out continuously to ensure that this business district is composed of legitimate businesses,' Moya said. ALSO READ: Industrial Park responds to claims as locals demand access to job opportunities Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
