Joburg digitizes informal traders

The City of Johannesburg has introduced a new digital informal trading permit system that aims to streamline the need process and provide real-time information to traders.

According to Herold Mbowane, Deputy Director for Informal Trading, the system will serve as an information center to send communication to traders via SMS and assist in bylaw management.

“The City’s previous informal trader system was manual, could not generate and provide real-time information, and could easily be manipulated,” he said.

It will also be able to generate reports for the informal trading sector and is consistent with the informal trading policy, which was approved by the Johannesburg City Council in April of last year.

The new system was fully implemented after a pilot process that lasted over three months and will allow beneficiaries to register and apply anywhere at any time, saving time and money.

However, Mbowane emphasized that the personal data of all beneficiaries will always be safeguarded.

Once fully-fledged, the digital application system will enable a trader or anyone wishing to become a trader in the City of Johannesburg to register and apply for a trading permit remotely at their leisure, ensuring the municipality is in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).