LETTER TO THE EDITOR: OUTRAGE AT FORCED EVICTIONS OF STREET TRADERS IN JOHANNESBURG
25 October 2013
Members and friends of the Centre for Urbanism and Built Environment Studies (CUBES) in the School of Architecture and Planning at Wits University note with grave concern the evictions and violent raids on over 3 000 informal traders that have taken place since 10 October under a “clean sweep” initiative following a directive of the Mayor of the City of Johannesburg.
As indicated by the Socio Economic Rights Institute, the operation does not comply with the City of Johannesburg’s existing economic, spatial or urban management policies or by-laws, which claim that the City recognises informal trade as a key economic activity which creates livelihood opportunities. Nor does it abide by the City’s own statement issued earlier this year that said it wants to ‘ensure informal trading is effectively integrated into the economic, spatial and social development goals of the city’.
As the country anticipates marking twenty years as a leading democracy and an exemplar of the principles of social justice, accountable government and responsible economic development, these actions symbolise not simply a flagrant disregard for proper procedures but a violation of the tacit agreement made between informal traders and those tasked with governing the city.
This “clean-up” campaign in the inner city is in no way constructive but rather has endangered the livelihoods of thousands of traders and their families and constitutes an abandonment of the City’s developmental aims, particularly for the city’s poor.
In a context of rising unemployment informal trade provides income generating opportunities for many thousands of people who are not able to find employment in the formal sector. This campaign is anti-poor and it cannot be viewed outside the context of violence, some xenophobic in orientation, which is levelled against many traders across South Africa.
We insist on invoking South Africa’s framework of human rights, these traders’ rights to dignity and their rights to the city, to trade in places of centrality. We demand a full enquiry into the actions of the police and JMPD during the raids, the legal basis for the raids and the removal of stands, confiscation of goods and denial of permission to trade.
The academic community is watching the situation in the inner city very closely. We call for an immediate end to these raids and we demand constructive engagement with traders. We also insist that the City abides by its own policies and strategies. The City of Johannesburg presents itself as a “caring” World Class City, but questions remain on how it can claim this status in the absence of supporting sustainable livelihoods and a coherent and inclusive strategy for street traders in the inner city.
Signed: Dr Sarah Charlton, Mpho Matsipa, Dr Margot Rubin, Professor Marie Huchzermeyer, Hannah le Roux, Professor Alison Todes, Kirsten Dörmann, Dr Sally Peberdy, Jennifer van den Bussche, Dr Matthew Wilhelm-Solomon, Dr Christopher McMichael, Neil Klug, Associate Professor Diaan van der Westhuizen, Associate Professor Claire Benit-Gbaffou, Solam Mkhabela, Professor Philip Harrison, Dr Costanza La Mantia, Associate Professor Mfaniseni Sihlongonyane, Nqobile Malaza.