City digitises informal traders’ permit application process

The City of Johannesburg has introduced an online system to help informal traders apply for their trading licences and one of the advantages of the system is the sending of real-time communication to traders via SMS and assisting in by-law management.

According to Deputy Director for Informal Trading Herold Mbowane, the City’s previous informal trader system was manual and could not provide real-time information, and could easily be manipulated.

ALSO READ: Informal traders want new policy to liberate them

​Mbowane explains that the policy recognises that informal trading is creating employment as opposed to its earlier version, which did not see it as such.

“Beneficiaries of the digital informal trading permit will now be able to register and apply anywhere at any time, and they don’t have to go to any office to register or apply for a trading permit, which will save time and money, ” said Mbowane.

ALSO READ: City of Joburg includes informal traders in policy formulation

Mbowane added that the system is also able to provide and communicate real-time information to traders or beneficiaries. However, the personal data of all beneficiaries will always be safeguarded.

The new system was fully implemented following a pilot process that lasted over three months.

ALSO READ: Covid-19: The City suspends the process of issuing permits to informal traders