The informal traders on Plattekloof Road, Bothasig, was another one of the matters on the agenda discussed at the recently held Subcouncil 3 meeting.
Helen Carstens, Ward 5 Councillor, mentioned at the meeting that a number of compliance letters had been issued to some of the traders, and that notices have also been issued to some to have them stop manufacturing at the site.
She said the problem they experience is that some of the traders do not comply.
In response to this, Shirley Alexander, district area coordinator – area economic development north, indicated that their department has sent out a team to the specific site, and that they do so regularly.
She said, however, that it is a process to have people understand that they cannot manufacture at the site.
Alexander said their department is doing their best to address the issue, but emphasised that it is a “constant education process”. She said compliance officers have also been sent out to Edgemead where they deal with similar issues.
Carstens in reaction indicated that she wants to keep tabs on the compliances and warnings issued.
Last week James Vos, Mayco member for economic growth, told TygerBurger that they presently have approximately 11 traders authorised to trade from the site along Plattekloof Road.
He said a written warning compliance request letter was first issued to traders on 10 March last year. Prior to that, traders were given verbal warnings by the department as well as law enforcement, he said.
“As far as area economic development is aware, no illegal trading has been reported on the site,” Vos said.
Asked about the traders manufacturing at the site and the notices issued to have them stop, Vos responded saying: “Traders are currently manufacturing on site, which is not permissible, neither on the Plattekloof trading site nor immediate surrounding.”
Vos said in this instance the notice is the first written warning issued to traders to stop manufacturing on site. Their ongoing compliance is being closely monitored by the department, he said.
He said compliance notices are only issued to traders when they infringe on the City’s informal trading bylaw, as well as the public spaces bylaw.
In this case the letters of compliance were served by the area economic development which is responsible for managing permitted informal traders on City land, he says.
The vacant piece of land in Bothasig where trading is currently taking place is also the site where a new high school is being built.
“Traders are not trading on the school site, but on a footprint of City owned land that is located outside the land earmarked for the school.
“It must be noted that the trading bays were allocated through a normal process. The trading plan itself went through a comprehensive public participation process and was subsequently approved by council and gazetted by provincial government in 2021,” Vos said.
