Statement by Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth

Today at the Mayoral Committee meeting, I had the pleasure of tabling a report necessitating the relief from trading permit fees for informal traders, a decision that was unanimously supported.

The report seeks an extension of the informal trading permit relief from the current agreed period by a further six months, which will apply from 1 July 2022 to 31 December 2022. This is in response to the continued unprecedented negative impact of the pandemic on the sector.

The informal sector has been hugely appreciative of the informal trading permit relief that was granted for the period 1 January 2022 to 30 June 2022.

While traders have largely been able to do business for a few months now, many are struggling with the severe impact of Covid-19 and the related lockdowns and are still desperately trying to survive financially and put their businesses back on a sustainable footing.

This extension of the permit relief will go some way to providing much-needed reprieve.

As a caring, opportunity City, we recognise traders’ vital contribution to economic growth, providing goods and services to communities across Cape Town, and most importantly, in sustaining livelihoods for people and their families.

The report will now go to Council later this month for final adoption and thereafter would be implemented. This decision will align the informal trading permit relief with the national Covid-19 Proclamation, which refers to a 12-month informal trading permit relief for informal traders across South Africa, and assist with reducing the confusion related to the National Government injunction.

Source: City Of Cape Town