Latest articles on Informal Traders

Not all of Jo’burg’s street traders can sell their wares under lockdown

Business Dennis Webster - 18 May 2020

Street traders are central to food security in Johannesburg. But since being declared an essential service under lockdown, street trade in South Africa’s biggest city has returned to uneven ground

Covid-19: ‘Unemployment benefits will not be extended to the informal sector’

Article Sarah Smit - 24 Mar 2020

Almost three million workers are not covered by measures implemented by the department of employment and labour to lessen the economic effects of the coronavirus

The informal economy is necessary to deal with the unemployment crisis

Article Eddie Rakabe - 19 Feb 2020

It is more connected to the broader economy than we realise and should be supported

Kigali’s trade-off: Sell and be arrested or starve

Africa Kristen Van Schie - 6 Mar 2019

At first glimpse, Rwanda’s capital is a model African city: clean, organised, beautiful. But behind the gleaming facade, not all is well

Used clothing industry oils the informal economy

Article Pontsho Pilane - 14 Apr 2016

Johannesburg’s hub of second-hand garment traders - run under the leadership of the African Traders Organisation - woos trendy and indigent customers.

Home Affairs is on the up

Article Staff Reporter - 17 Mar 2016

But the thriving informal economy situated near the department’s Marabastad offices is now feeling the pinch, thanks to its increased efficiency.

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Economic tides hurt small traders

Article Raeesa Pather - 17 Dec 2015

Macroeconomic events go right down the line to those struggling to make a living on the streets.

A permanent job is hard to find

Article Sarah Evans - 1 Oct 2015

Precarious work is becoming the norm as bosses increase their levels of exploitation.

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Gender equality is a right, but it’s about economic growth too

Article Staff Reporter - 10 Jul 2015

In each of the SADC's 15 member countries, millions of women traders are putting SADC's vision into practice.

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Municipality impounding informal traders’ goods ‘unlawful’

Article Chantelle Benjamin 1 - 17 Feb 2015

The eThekwini municipality’s power to impound and confiscate the goods belonging to traders was found to be unconstitutional, invalid and unlawful.

Hawkers’ fruit bruised by legislation

Article Staff Reporter - 21 Aug 2014

Informal traders were swept off Jo'burg's streets in October and although the city now appears to have embraced them, their future remains uncertain.

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Tshwane: ‘There is no widespread harassment of hawkers’

Article Sarah Evans - 18 Jun 2014

The city's informal traders say they're the victims of arbitrary, violent removal from their stalls, but Tshwane denies its police harassed them.

Shots fired at Tshwane protesters

Article Staff Reporter - 17 Jun 2014

Security guards have allegedly shot one of the men protesting against the ill treatment of vendors at the hands of the Tshwane Metro police.

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Tshwane metro police attack hawkers, confiscate goods

Article Sapa - 10 Jan 2014

Several informal traders in Pretoria have complained of vicious physical attacks by members of the Tshwane metro police.

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‘Convenient’ to remove lawful traders in Op Clean Sweep

Article Sarah Evans - 5 Dec 2013

The City of Jo'burg has admitted in court that lawful informal traders were removed from the streets along with illegal ones in Operation Clean Sweep.

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[email protected] - 26 Sep 2020

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special reports - 23 Sep 2020

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SingularityU Online Summit to contribute to SME growth in 2020

special reports - 23 Sep 2020

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Policy priorities lie with urgent economic reforms

special reports - 23 Sep 2020

Professor Raymond Parsons believes that business and consumer sentiment in South Africa would both benefit from even lower borrowing costs