Joburg’s Street Showdown: Operation Dudula Backs City Crackdown on Informal Traders

The tension between Johannesburg’s informal traders and city officials has reached a boiling point and this time, Operation Dudula is standing firmly behind the City of Johannesburg.

A Legal Battle Over Livelihoods

Outside the Johannesburg High Court, a growing crowd of informal traders gathered on Friday, chanting and holding up signs demanding the right to work. Inside, lawyers for the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) argued that the city’s recent removal of traders from inner-city pavements violates their constitutional right to earn a living.

The City, on the other hand, insists it’s simply enforcing bylaws designed to restore order to a congested and often chaotic CBD. Officials argue that traders operating in undesignated areas are disrupting pedestrian traffic, flouting safety regulations, and worsening urban decay.

Operation Dudula Weighs In

Among the voices supporting the City’s crackdown is Operation Dudula. The movement’s Johannesburg representative, Sibongile Maseko, told journalists that laws exist for a reason: “You cannot be selling anywhere. There are designated areas for hawkers. That is what the city is advocating for.”

Operation Dudula’s stance aligns with the City’s “clean-up Joburg” agenda a campaign many see as a long-overdue effort to reclaim public spaces from illegal activities.

Traders Speak Out: “We’re Not Against Order, We Just Need To Eat”

But for those who rely on street trading to feed their families, the situation has been devastating. Many say their stalls were torn down without notice, leaving them without income overnight.

“Cleaning Joburg is what I want to see happening,” said one trader, “but stopping me from trading without a notice and claiming that I’m illegal then the mayor must think again.”

A City Divided

The debate reflects a deeper struggle over how South Africa’s cities balance regulation with economic survival. Informal trading is one of the oldest and most vital lifelines for the unemployed, particularly in Joburg’s inner city where opportunities are scarce.

Social media reaction has been split. Some residents back the City’s firm stance, arguing that sidewalks must be freed up for safety and order. Others have accused the municipality of being “anti-poor,” calling for more inclusive policies that formalize rather than criminalize informal work.

What’s Next?

As the High Court deliberates on the matter, the future of hundreds of Joburg street traders hangs in the balance. The outcome could set a major precedent for how South African cities approach informal economies caught between legality and livelihood, bylaws and bread.

For now, Joburg’s inner city remains both a battleground and a barometer of how far the country has come or still has to go in building an economy that works for everyone.

{Source:EWN}

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