Informal traders on Aitken Road and Van Riebeeck Avenue concern locals
EMPD has helped move the traders a few times but soon after being removed the informal traders return.
The activities and behaviour of informal traders utilising a piece of land located on the corner of Aitken Road and Van Riebeeck Avenue have again raised concerns.
According to Ward 19 Alderman Bill Rundle, this is an ongoing concern for him and residents in the area.
Rundle identified the piece of land in question as a City Power servitude. It lies on the boundary between the cities of Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg.
ALSO READ: Councillor Bill Rundle disappointed with Aitken Road project
According to Rundle, the challenge surrounding informal traders has existed for over 10 years.
Their activities were brought to his attention in 2011 once he was elected ward councillor.
Rundle said informal traders have used the location as a facility to sell and store their wares and have increased in number over the years.
He said doing so under a power servitude was illegal.
“You cannot trade on a servitude, it’s in total contravention of the city’s by-laws.”
Rundle claimed that some of the informal traders live on the power servitude among the long grass.
“Where the grass is longer some people live and cook there. They use Leisure View Village’s perimeter wall to store their wares.”
In 2021, while speaking about the same concerns, Rundle said: “Residents of Leisure View Retirement Village and those living along Aitken Road are concerned with the activity in the servitude. They believe the presence of the traders poses a security risk.”
ALSO READ: Stormwater repairs along Aitken Road to start in May
Rundle said the servitude and piece of land fall under the jurisdiction of the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) and the EMPD.
“EMPD has helped move the traders a few times but soon after being removed the informal traders return.”
According to Rundle, City Power seemingly doesn’t care what happens on its servitude.
In 2021, CoE said it was aware of and has conducted several operations with the assistance of the EMPD in an attempt to remove informal traders from a power servitude.
A request for comment was sent to City Power and CoE on July 30 requesting comment by August 1 at 12:00.
At the time of going to print no comment was received.
