JMPD officials to be deployed exclusively for informal trading in the inner city
The process to deploy the officials will get underway in the 2022/23 financial year, which begins on July 1.
The Department of Economic Development has sponsored the deployment of 250 new JMPD officials to assist with the implementation of the Informal Trading Policy in the inner city.
The MMC for Economic Development, Nkululeko Mbundu, announced this during a stakeholder engagement meeting with representatives on June 9.
The purpose of the meeting was to give an update on the rollout underway, including the launch of the digital trader’s permit system.
The meeting also initiated the process to appoint the Informal Trading Stakeholder Committee as stipulated in the policy, which was approved by Council on April 26.
The policy instructs the city to ensure there is a timeous and considered implementation within five years upon approval.
The committee will ensure alignment across city departments in service delivery relating to informal trade in the inner city. These departments will include economic development, development planning, environment and infrastructure services, community development and public safety.
The committee, which will be chaired by Mbundu, will comprise eight city officials, eight inner-city informal traders representatives and four business stakeholders.
It will ensure inclusivity of affected stakeholder interests in the implementation of the policy and allow for continuous engagement, and transparency in the policing and management of the informal trade sector.
“By-law enforcement in the inner city has always been a significant problem, especially because of overcrowding. There are more people and traders than our capacity to ensure proper law enforcement.
“Recognising this, I spoke to MMC David Tembe and we agreed that these additional officers will be assisting us in the effective rollout of the informal trading policy,” said Mbundu.
The process to deploy the officials will get underway in the 2022/23 financial year, which begins on July 1.
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