Informal trading in the City of Johannesburg : suggestions to create an enabling environment

Abstract

The notion of Developmental Local Government led to a totally new approach to what was traditionally viewed as the essential role and function of local government. Historically, local government was seen as an instrument to ensure the delivery of basic services (e.g. water and sanitation) to communities in an orderly fashion and to implement regulations. However, in the new dispensation, local government is regarded as a primary facilitator to redress the lacking infrastructure and limited economic activity associated with most of the segregated urban areas within South Africa (Reconstruction and Development Programme, 1994: 129). Municipalities should, therefore, take responsibility for reconstruction and development activities. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 provides local government with a new mandate to govern, provide services and to promote development within their areas of jurisdiction. Currently a contentious issue is that of informal trading within urban areas in the Country. Municipalities should create an enabling environment within which these aspects can be addressed. This article reflects on the issue of informal trading and the creation of an enabling environment through means of establishing a transactional relationship between all stakeholders within the context of informal trading.