Today, the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI), in partnership with the South African Informal Traders Forum, launched a new rights guide titled “Trading in Retail Markets in eThekwini: Your Rights.”
Retail market traders are a vital part of eThekwini’s informal economy, operating primarily from municipal-owned retail markets situated near high-traffic areas and transport hubs. These markets serve as key centres of local economic activity and cultural diversity and are governed by a set of regulations distinct from those that apply to street traders.
This new guide provides a comprehensive overview of the rights of retail market traders, relevant laws and policies, and the responsibilities of the municipality. It also outlines avenues for recourse in instances where traders’ rights are infringed.
The guide begins by setting out how you can become a registered informal trader operating in a retail market. It then sets out the relationship between the municipality and market traders. This is followed by a discussion on the municipality’s powers in regulating retail markets. Next, it sets out the legal steps you can take if you feel you have been treated unfairly by the municipality. The guide ends with a list of useful contacts and documents.
Developed in close consultation with market traders, the guide draws on their lived experiences and insights. It aims to raise awareness among traders and to empower them with actionable knowledge to protect their rights. It is based on a similar guide produced for street traders in eThekwini.
>> Download the full guide here.