Traders out in the cold after closure of Marabastad retail market over permits

On Thursday, all traders at the market failed to produce trading permits as per the city’s trading by-laws, resulting in the closure of the market.

Dozens of traders have found themselves out in the cold following the closure of the Marabastad retail market in Tshwane when vendors were found to be operating without a permit.

On Thursday, all traders at the market failed to produce trading permits as per the city’s trading by-laws, resulting in the closure of the market.

Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya said permission to trade was not granted through a lease agreement between landowner and a trader or business owner.

“As part of the cleanup in Marabastad, we have to make sure we enforce our by-laws, but also remember we are also reclaiming property of the city. This small market is the property of the city.

“It was leased to somebody and that person sub-let it to all these guys that are here. As a result, everyone who’s operating at the market has no license to trade there and they don’t have the health certificate required for them to sell fruit and vegetables.”

She added that traders were informed to contact officials to be guided on the process to obtain trading permits.

“What we want to say is that for people who want to trade fruit and vegetables, please go to our LED office in Tshwane House to check if you qualify to lease because we’re going to revoke our license and the lease agreement from the person we have a lease with because they contravened the lease agreement.”