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Informal Trading By-law, 2009

Informal Trading By-law, 2009
This is the latest version of this By-law.
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Cape Town
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Cape Town
South Africa

Informal Trading By-law, 2009

  1. [Amended by Informal Trading By-law: Amendment on 6 December 2013]
  2. [Amended by Informal Trading Amendment By-law, 2025 on 27 June 2025]
[The By-law was amended by the substitution for the word “Officer” wherever it appears with the words “authorised official”, by section 2 of the Amendment By-law, 2025]

1. Preamble

1.1In terms of the Constitution, the City is responsible for "trading regulations", "markets", "street trading" and "beaches" within its area of jurisdiction. One of the City's objects is to promote social and economic development.
1.2The City recognises the key role that informal trading plays in poverty alleviation, income generation and entrepreneurial development and, in particular, the positive impact that informal trading has on historically disadvantaged individuals and communities.
1.3The City acknowledges the need to adopt a developmental approach to the informal trading sector in order to create an environment that is conducive to the growth of businesses in the informal trading sector.
1.4The City further acknowledges the need for a balanced relationship between the informal and formal trading sectors in order to promote social and economic development within a well-managed municipal area.
1.5This By-Law, accordingly aims to:-
1.5.1consolidate in a single By-Law, the By-Laws passed by the predecessors in law of the City of Cape Town; and
1.5.2govern informal trading within its area of jurisdiction.

2. Interpretation

In this By-Law, the English text prevails in the event of any conflict with the Afrikaans or the isiXhosa texts and, unless the context indicates otherwise -
2.1"authorised official" means an employee of the City responsible for carrying out any duty or function or exercising any power in terms of this By-Law and includes employees delegated to carry out or exercise such duties, functions or powers;[definition of "authorised official" inserted by section 1(a) of the Amendment By-law, 2025]"beach" means the portion of land above and contiguous to the seashore and includes any grass verge (where such verge exists);
2.2"beach trading" means informal trading that takes place on a beach and includes trading on a parking area adjacent to the beach;
2.3"black person" is a generic term as contemplated in the Employment Equity Act, No. 55 of 1998 which means Africans, Coloureds, Indians and South African Chinese persons;
2.4"Businesses Act" means the Businesses Act, No. 71 of 1991 including any regulations issued thereunder;
2.5"City" means the municipality of the City of Cape Town duly established in terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, No. 117 of 1998;
2.6"City property" means property owned, leased by, or under the management control of the City;
2.7"Constitution" means the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996;
2.8"Council" or "the Council" means the Council of the City as contemplated in section 118 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, No. 117 of 1998;“Decommission” means the Council approved rescindment of a Mobile Business Trading Area which is no longer zoned for economic activity and permitted for mobile business operations;[definition of "Decommission" inserted by section 1(b) of the Amendment By-law, 2025]
2.9"high-water mark" means the high water mark as defined in the Seashore Act, No. 21 of 1935 as amended from time to time;
2.10"historically disadvantaged individual" means a South African citizen who -2.10.1is a black person;2.10.2is a woman; and/or2.10.3has a disability;
2.11"illegal goods" means -2.11.1Goods that it is illegal to sell or to buy (including but not limited to counterfeit goods as defined in the Counterfeit Goods Act No. 37 of 1997);2.11.2Goods that are bought or sold in a manner which contravenes the law.
2.12"impoundment costs" means all costs incurred by the City in impounding and storing property impounded in terms of section 18.2, and, where applicable, the costs incurred as a result of the disposal or releasing of the impounded property and any other associated costs;
2.13"informal trader" means a person, or an enterprise which is not registered or incorporated in terms of the corporate laws of South Africa and which engages in informal trading;
2.14"informal trading" means the trading in goods and services in the informal sector by an informal trader and which typically constitutes the types of trading described in section 3.1 and section 3.2;“land-custodian department” means a City department who is the custodian of land owned by the a City and who is duly authorised to consent to the establishment of an MBTA on such property;[definition of "land-custodian department" inserted by section 1(c) of the Amendment By-law, 2025]
2.15"market" means a demarcated area within a trading area which is designated as such in a trading plan and which is managed in a co-ordinated manner;“Mobile Business” means a business registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission that operates inside a self-contained and self-propelled vehicle or a vehicle designed to be drawn by a self-propelled vehicle that is licensed for use on a public road, and which shall not include a shipping container;[definition of "Mobile Business" inserted by section 1(d) of the Amendment By-law, 2025]“Mobile Business Operator” means a person whose business has attained the necessary licenses and has been issued with a mobile business permit by the City to operate a mobile business;[definition of "Mobile Business Operator" inserted by section 1(d) of the Amendment By-law, 2025]“Mobile Business Permit” means a permit to operate as a mobile business within a City-established Mobile Business Trading Area (MBTA);[definition of "Mobile Business Permit" inserted by section 1(d) of the Amendment By-law, 2025]“Mobile Business Trading Area (MBTA)” means a trading area for mobile businesses within the jurisdictional area of the City of Cape Town;[definition of "Mobile Business Trading Area (MBTA)" inserted by section 1(d) of the Amendment By-law, 2025]
2.16"non-City property" means property that is situated within the jurisdictional area of the City but which is not owned, leased by, or under the management control of the City;
2.17"nuisance" includes, but is not limited to, an act or omission which is offensive, injurious or dangerous to health, or which materially interferes with the ordinary comfort, convenience, peace or quiet of the public or which adversely affects the public at large;
2.18"officer" [definition of "officer" deleted by section 1(e) of the Amendment By-law, 2025]
2.19"permit-holder" means an informal trader who has been granted a permit by the City to conduct informal trading in a trading area;
2.20"seashore" holds the same meaning as it is defined in the Sea Shore Act, No. 21 of 1935 as amended from time to time;
2.21“Service Level Agreement” means an inter-departmental agreement which outlines the roles, responsibilities and authoritative powers of the City departments party to the agreement in terms of mobile businesses;[definition of "Service Level Agreement" inserted by section 1(f) of the Amendment By-law, 2025]"special events" may include, but are not limited to, sports events, night markets, cultural events, music festivals, promotional, filming activities and religious events;
2.22"Systems Act" means the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, No. 32 of 2000;
2.23"trading area" means an area in respect of which a trading plan has been adopted in terms of this By-Law;
2.24"trading plan" means a trading plan adopted by the City to govern informal trading within a trading area.

3. Types of informal trading

3.1Informal trading may include, amongst others:-
3.1.1street trading;
3.1.2trading in pedestrian malls;
3.1.3trading at markets;
3.1.4trading at transport interchanges;
3.1.5trading in public open spaces;
3.1.6mobile trading, such as from caravans, and light delivery vehicles;
3.1.7roving traders; and
3.1.8trading at special events.
3.2Beach trading includes -
3.2.1trading from fixed trading bays;
3.2.2mobile trading, such as from caravans and light delivery vehicles;
3.2.3roving traders; and
3.2.4mobile and/or removable kiosks.

3A. Types of recognised mobile businesses

Mobile business trading may include, amongst others:
3A.1Food trucks and coffee operators;
3A.2Mobile hair salons;
3A.3Mobile pet grooming;
3A.4Book mobiles;
3A.5Ice-cream trucks; and
3A.6Pop up flower trucks.
[section 3A inserted by section 3 of the Amendment By-law, 2025]

4. Freedom to engage in informal trading

Informal trading and mobile business trading is permitted in any area within the jurisdiction of the City, subject to any trading plans and MBTAs adopted by the City, the provisions of this By-law and any other applicable law.[section 4 substituted by section 4 of the Amendment By-law, 2025]

5. Adoption of trading plans

5.1The City must, where appropriate, adopt trading plans, particularly in areas where there is a significant overlap between formal and informal trading. A trading plan may allow and regulate informal trading on non-City property, subject to the rights of the owners of such property.
5.2A trading plan must:
5.2.1define the geographic boundary of the trading area; and
5.2.2demarcate informal trading bays and markets where informal trading is permitted, outside of which informal trading shall be prohibited in that trading area.
5.3A trading plan may include any other matters governing informal trading in the relevant trading area, such as -
5.3.1prescribing any informal trading conditions, including such terms and conditions to be imposed in terms of permits to be issued by the City in terms of section 8 and subject to any requirements of this By-Law;
5.3.2the manner in which social and economic development will be promoted through the trading plan;
5.3.3the manner in which sensitive heritage and environmental areas within the proposed trading area will be protected;
5.3.4matters relating to a market which may be located within the relevant trading area, including, but not limited to:
5.3.4.1the demarcation of the area within the trading area which constitutes a market;
5.3.4.2where appropriate, the demarcation of trading bays within the market;
5.3.4.3the legal arrangements between the City and any third party in respect of the obligations relating to the general management of the market in terms of which the third party is responsible for at least the following:
5.3.4.3.1the management of the operations of the market;
5.3.4.3.2the management of informal traders operating within the market;
5.3.4.3.3ensuring that all relevant persons participate in appropriate decisions;
5.3.4.3.4providing guidance to the informal traders operating within the market with business support and development services; and
5.3.4.3.5any service which is in addition to the services provided by the City.
5.4A trading plan must comply with sections 11, 12 and 13 of this By-Law and with any other applicable law.
5.5Any person shall be entitled to request that the City considers the adoption of a trading plan; provided that where a proposed trading plan contemplates trading taking place on non-City property, the request is accompanied by the written consent of the owner of such non-City property. The City must consider and decide upon the request within a reasonable period.
5.6When considering a request for the adoption of a trading plan, the City shall have due regard to any existing and proposed trading plans in the vicinity of the proposed trading area in order to determine the desirability of the adoption of a trading plan.

6. Public participation in respect of the adoption of a trading plan

Public Notice requesting comments and objectionsBefore adopting a trading plan, the City is obliged to-
6.1consult with interested and affected role players including the informal and formal sectors with the view to compiling a draft trading plan;
6.2compile a draft trading plan following the consultation process in terms of section 6.1;
6.3publish notices in 2 (two) local daily newspapers that are circulated in thearea in which the proposed trading area is situated, unless a community newspaper which is free to the public is circulated in such area in which case 1 (one) of the 2 (two) notices must be published in such community newspaper, that -
6.3.1contains the key aspects of the draft trading plan and which notifies the public that the draft trading plan is available for inspection at a specified location; and
6.3.2invites comments and objections from the public in relation to such draft trading plan, to be received by the City within 30 (thirty) days from the date of publication of the notice.
6.4When the City publishes a notice in terms of section 6.3, it must, where applicable, convey the contents of the notice by radio on a local radio-station that broadcasts in the area concerned.Public meeting
6.5In the notice referred to in section 6.3, the City must invite interested and affected parties to a public meeting.
6.6The public meeting must be held -
6.6.1within the vicinity of the proposed trading area; and
6.6.2after 7 (seven) days but not later than 60 (sixty) days from the date of publication of the notice published in terms of section 6.3.
6.7At the public meeting, the City must -
6.7.1be represented by a person duly authorised by the City who must make a presentation to the public present at the meeting in which the draft trading plan is explained;
6.7.2reasonably respond to any queries related to the draft trading plan which may be posed by the public at the public meeting; and
6.7.3give interested and affected parties an opportunity to make comments and objections at the public meeting, and such comments and objections must be recorded.
Consideration of options prior to adoption of a trading plan
6.8The City must consider all objections or comments that the City may receive pursuant to the process outlined in this section.
6.9After having considered the comments and objections, the Council must,within a reasonable period from the commencement of the public participation process in respect of the relevant draft trading plan, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, and at a meeting of the Council ø
6.9.1adopt the draft trading plan;
6.9.2amend and adopt the draft trading plan; or
6.9.3reject the draft trading plan.
6.10Notwithstanding the provisions of section 59 of the Systems Act, the Council may not delegate the decision-making powers referred to in section 6.9.
6.11In the event that the City adopts a draft trading plan, a notice must be published in 2 (two) daily newspapers circulated in the trading area, unless a community newspaper which is free to the public is circulated in such area in which case 1 (one) of the 2 (two) notices must be published in such community newspaper, and the Provincial Gazette, which informs the public:
6.11.1that the draft trading plan has been adopted as a trading plan;
6.11.2of the key aspects of the trading plan including the date upon which it shall become effective; and
6.11.3that the trading plan is available for inspection at a specified location.

7. Amendment, revocation and review of trading plans

The City -
7.1may amend or revoke an adopted trading plan, provided that:
7.1.1if the amendment deviates materially from the trading plan, the City must comply with section 6 with the necessary changes required by the context, provided further that where persons are adversely affected by a proposed amendment that does not require compliance with section 6, such persons will be afforded their just administrative rights; or
7.1.2In the case of a revocation the City shall afford all affected persons their administrative justice rights.
7.2must review trading plans from time to time as the City deems fit.

7A. Establishment of mobile business trading areas

7A.1The City may select a public space for the establishment of MBTAs. A detailed process for the establishment of MBTAs must be contained in a standard operating procedure which is applicable to all affected City departments.
7A.2The City department responsible for establishing an MBTA must—
(a)after an area is identified as a potential MBTA, engage the land-custodian department and provide written information such as site conditions, proximity to existing infrastructure, possible risks and any other necessary information to the land-custodian department;
(b)enter into a standard Service Level Agreement signed by the land-custodian department’s Executive Director. The Service Level Agreement should contain all matters related to the management of the MBTA including roles and responsibilities of the respective City departments involved and designated signatories;
(c)ensure that a potential MBTA goes through a public participation process in accordance with the City’s public participation policies and national legislation; and
(d)undertake the process of establishing MBTAs annually or at the discretion the City.
7A.3Newly established MBTAs must be approved by Council.
[section 7A inserted by section 5 of the Amendment By-law, 2025]

7B. Decommissioning of existing mobile business trading areas

7B.1The City may identify an existing MBTA for decommission upon a request received or where deemed necessary. A detailed process to decommission existing MBTAs must be contained in a standard operating procedure which is applicable to all affected City departments.
7B.2The City department responsible for the process to decommission an existing MBTA must—
(a)consider all written requests received to decommission an existing MBTA;
(b)undertake a site visit to the MBTA in question; and
(c)issue a notice informing all affected mobile business operators of the intent to decommission a MBTA and provide an opportunity for mobile business operators to comment.
7B.3Council must approve the decommissioning of any MBTAs.
[section 7B inserted by section 5 of the Amendment By-law, 2025]

8. Permits

8.1No person may conduct informal trading on City property in a trading area without a valid permit from the City.
8.2The City is entitled to charge a permit-holder:
8.2.1a trading fee;
8.2.2an application fee; and
8.2.3an additional fee or tariff, which is to be determined by the City in its sole discretion, in respect of additional costs incurred or services provided by the City, including but not limited to circumstances where the permit-holder trades within a market.
8.3In the event that a person qualifies for a permit, but has motivated in writing the inability to pay the fee contemplated in section 8.2 and has provided sufficient proof thereof to the reasonable satisfaction of the City, the City may waive the fee in whole or in part, or may determine a payment system in terms of which the person may pay the fee over a stipulated period by way of instalments.
8.4In order to qualify for a permit, the applicant -
8.4.1must be an informal trader, or desire to become an informal trader;
8.4.2may not already hold a permit in respect of the trading area in respect of which a permit is being applied;
8.4.3must be a South African citizen, failing which, must be in possession of a valid work permit which includes, but is not limited to, a refugee permit; and
8.4.4must not employ and actively utilise the services of more than 5 (five) persons.
8.5The City must take into account the following factors when considering an application for a permit -
8.5.1the applicant's ability to meet the trading hours for the relevant trading area as the City may determine;
8.5.2the need to give preference to applicants that are historically disadvantaged individuals;
8.5.3[Paragraph 8.5.3 deleted by amendment on 2013-12-06.]
8.5.4the nature of the trading goods which the applicant intends selling, or the services which the applicant intends rendering, bearing in mind the nature of the businesses within that trading area or in its immediate vicinity;
8.5.5the need to give preference to unemployed applicants;
8.5.6the need to give preference to applicants who do not share a household with an existing permit-holder, unless:
8.5.6.1the number of available trading bays for the relevant trading area is more than the number of applicants seeking permits for those trading bays; or
8.5.6.2the applicant who shares a household with a permit-holder is not a dependant or financially reliant upon such permit-holder;
8.5.7[Paragraph 8.5.7 deleted by amendment on 2013-12-06.]
8.5.8[Paragraph 8.5.8 deleted by amendment on 2013-12-06.]
8.5.9where trading plans are adopted in areas previously not subject to such plans, the need to give preference to applicants who have an established informal trading operation in the location for which a new trading area is adopted.
8.5ANotwithstanding the provisions of subsection 8.5 the City may give preference to an applicant -
(a)who resides in or close to the trading area for which the permit is applied; or
(b)who is a new entrant as an informal trader on the database of the City of Cape Town.
8.5BNotwithstanding the provision contemplated in paragraph 8.5.3, the City may allocate only one (1) bay per applicant.
8.6The City is entitled to impose such terms and conditions in respect of permits as it deems fit, subject to the provisions of the applicable trading plan, including but not limited to the right to -
8.6.1specify the:
8.6.1.1trading hours during which the permit-holder may trade;
8.6.1.2nature of the goods or services the permit-holder is permitted to trade; and
8.6.1.3permit-holder's trading bay number;
8.6.2allocate the informal trader an alternative bay in the same trading area;
8.6.3specify the type of structure(s), if any, which may be erected on a trading bay and/or in a trading area;
8.6.4impound trading goods in terms of section 18.2 or section 18.8 in the event of a contravention of any provision of this By-Law or any other law;
8.6.5suspend a permit for a special event on reasonable prior notice with no compensation payable to the informal trader, notwithstanding that informal trading may be permitted by the City at the special event in terms of section 14;
8.6.6provided that two written warnings have been issued to the informal trader and after affording the relevant informal trader an opportunity to make written representations, revoke or suspend a permit in the event of an informal trader -
8.6.6.1breaching any provisions of the permit and/or the By-Law or any other law;
8.6.6.2being convicted of trading in illegal goods or providing a service unlawfully; or
8.6.6.3wilfully supplying incorrect information when required to provide the City with information.
8.6.6.4[Paragraph 8.6.6.4 deleted by amendment on 2013-12-06.]
8.7Notwithstanding the contents of the relevant trading plan, the City has the right to, upon reasonable prior notice to the informal trader and with no compensation payable by the City to the permit-holder, temporarily:
8.7.1relocate a permit-holder;
8.7.2suspend the validity of a permit; or
8.7.3prohibit a permit-holder from trading at the relevant trading bay;
should it be necessary to do so because of the performance of activities which renders the continuation of trading from the relevant trading bay impractical or severely inconvenient.
8.8Activities referred to in section 8.7 shall include, but not be limited to, maintenance or construction of infrastructure or buildings performed by the City, property developments, alterations or refurbishments by any entity, or activities by public entities conducted in terms of their powers and functions.

8A. Permits for mobile businesses

8A.1A person may not operate a mobile business without a valid permit issued by the City.
8A.2A person may apply to the City for a permit to operate a mobile business.
8A.3A mobile business permit application must include—
(a)a description of the intended business activity;
(b)an approved roadworthy certificate or proof of vehicle licence and registration;
(c)a fire safety certificate issued by the City;
(d)a business license issued by the City Health department, and includes:
(i)a waste management plan; and
(ii)a certificate of acceptability.
8A.4The City may charge the applicant an application fee. The fee is determined in accordance with the City’s tariff policies and schedules.
8A.5The City must consider the following factors when considering an application for a permit:
(a)the nature of the mobile business and the vicinity in which the mobile business intends to operate, factoring in possible overcrowding and lack of infrastructure;
(b)number of permits already allocated to a specific mobile business operator; and
(c)access to and availability of basic service infrastructure, such as public toilets and seating.
8A.6The City may issue a permit to operate a mobile business on City land after consideration of factors listed in section 8A.5 and once the City is satisfied that the application has met all the necessary requirements contained in the By-law.
[section 8A inserted by section 6 of the Amendment By-law, 2025]

9. Transfer of permits

9.1A permit may be permanently transferred, with the written approval of the City, to a dependant, or an assistant acting on behalf of the dependant, who will continue trading until the permit is no longer valid, in the event of -
9.1.1the death of the permit-holder; and
9.1.2if the loss of income generated by the informal trading would place the dependent under undue or severe economic hardship.
9.2A permit may be temporarily transferred, with the written approval of the City, to a dependent or, where there is no dependent, to an individual nominated by the permit-holder, where the permit-holder:
9.2.1is incapable of for personal reasons such as an illness, pregnancy, family responsibility, religious or cultural matters, or any other personal matter, for a period no longer than 6 months, provided that:
9.2.1.1a written affidavit is provided to the City stating the nature and period for which the permit-holder requires the permit transfer
9.2.1.2the dependent or assistant is only permitted to replace the permit-holder for the period stipulated in the affadavit;
9.2.2[Paragraph 9.2.2 deleted by amendment on 2013-12-06.].
9.3Subject to section 9.2, a permit-holder may not transfer a permit to any other person in any manner, including but not limited to, by way of lease or sale.
9.4A permit must immediately be returned to the City should the City revoke such permit in the event of the permit-holder -
9.4.1being refused permission to transfer the permit and the permit-holder failing to resume trading; and
9.4.2no longer wishing to trade as an informal trader from the relevant trading bay.

10. Obligations on owners of non-city property

An owner of non-City property which has been demarcated in a trading plan as land where informal trading is permitted, must -
10.1ensure that all informal trading that takes place on the owner's property complies with the applicable trading plan and this By-Law;
10.2permit any authorised official access to the owner's property to enforce the provisions of this By-Law;
10.3ensure, at the owner's cost, that sufficient services are provided to maintain acceptable hygienic conditions in respect of the informal trading;
10.4ensure that trading from formal business premises do not encroach upon the property of another property owner.

11. General prohibitions on informal trading

Informal trading may not be conducted:-
11.1in a garden or park under the control of the City and to which the public has the right of access, unless such area has been declared by the City as a trading area;
11.2on a verge or sidewalk (as defined in section 1 of the National Road Traffic Act, No. 93 of 1996) next to -
1.2.1a building belonging to or occupied solely by the State or City, unless the City has given its prior written consent after it has ø
11.2.1.1duly considered any relevant trading plan; and
11.2.1.2consulted with the relevant property owner and, where relevant, the tenant of such property;
11.2.2a place of worship such as a church, synagogue or mosque unless a trading plan permits informal trading at that area; or
11.2.3a national monument as determined in accordance with the provisions of the National Heritage Resources Act, 25 of 1999;
11.3at a place where it -
11.3.1obstructs access to fire fighting equipment;
11.3.2obstructs any entry to or exit from a building;
11.3.3substantially obstructs pedestrians in their use of a sidewalk;
11.3.4obstructs vehicular traffic;
11.3.5and in a manner by which it creates a traffic hazard;
11.3.76obstructs access to street furniture, bus passenger benches and shelters, queuing lines, refuse disposal bins or other facilities intended for the use of the general public;
11.3.7obstructs the visibility of a display window of business premises, and if the person carrying on business in that business premises objects thereto;
11.3.8obstructs access to a pedestrian crossing;
11.3.9obstructs access to a vehicle;
11.3.10obscures any road traffic sign;
11.3.11obstructs access to an automatic teller machine;
11.3.12limits access to parking or loading bays or other facilities for vehicular traffic;
11.3.13obstructs access to a pedestrian arcade or mall;
11.3.14obstructs the view of CCTV cameras; or
11.3.15falls below the high water mark, unless a trading plan expressly provides for informal trading at that area;
11.4on the half of a public road which is next to a building that is being used for residential purposes, if the owner or occupier of that building objects to the informal trading taking place at that location.

12. Restrictions on informal trading

No person shall:-
12.1obstruct access to any service of the municipality or municipal service works;
12.2unless prior written approval is granted by the City, at any public road or public place -
12.2.1stay overnight at the place where informal trading is conducted; or
12.2.2erect any structure, other than as stipulated in the relevant trading area plan and/or permit conditions, for the purpose of providing shelter;
12.3carry on business as an informal trader in a manner which ø
12.3.1creates a nuisance;
12.3.2damages or defaces the surface of any public road or public place or any other property belonging to the City; or
12.3.3creates a traffic hazard;
12.4attach an object to any building, structure, pavement, footway, tree, parking meter, lamp pole, electricity pole, telephone booth, postbox, traffic sign,bench or any other street furniture or device in or on a public road or public place that is generally intended for public use;
12.5make a fire at any place or in circumstances where it could harm any person or damage a building or vehicle or any structure referred to in section 12.4, unless authorised to prepare foodstuffs by utilising open-flame fire or gas-fired equipment;
12.6deliver or provide goods or equipment to an informal trader if that trader trades in contravention of this By-Law;
12.7after having been requested to do so by any person carrying out an activity contemplated in section 8.7 who requires access to a facility or area, fail to remove or move any goods, or refuse to do so; and
12.8if permitted to conduct beach trading:
12.8.1sell or promote alcoholic products;
12.8.2use bells, hooters, amplified equipment or similar devices, which emit sound, in order to attract customers; or
12.8.3use any electrical supply or power generator, unless expressly approved and provided for in the relevant permit.

13. Waste removal, cleansing and hygiene

13.1An informal trader must -
13.1.1maintain the informal trader's allocated informal trading site in a clean and sanitary condition;
13.1.2on a daily basis and at the conclusion of trading, collect and remove from any public road or public place all waste, packaging material, stock and equipment that are utilised in connection with or produced by the informal trader's business, unless the City grants a written exemption in this regard;
13.1.3carry on business in a manner which does not cause a threat to public or public safety; and
13.1.4at the request of an authorised official or duly authorised employee of the City, move or remove any object so that the area or site from which informal trading is conducted may be cleaned.
13.2Failure to comply with the provisions of this section or the lawful request of an authorised official in terms of this section, will be regarded as a contravention of the By-Law and the informal trader shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of this By-Law.
13.3In the event of the sale of foodstuffs prepared in the trading bay, a certificate of acceptability must first be obtained from the City.

14. Special events

The City may permit or prohibit informal trading for purposes of special events on such terms and conditions as it may deem fit, notwithstanding the terms of any trading plan or any permits issued in respect of the relevant trading area.

15. Guidelines and policies

The City may at any time publish or amend guidelines or policies in respect of informal trading in the municipal area.

16. Powers and functions

16.1Subject to section 16(3), the City Manager shall be responsible for:
16.1.1all functions and decisions contemplated in this By-Law; and
16.1.2the administration of this By-Law.
16.2The City Manager may delegate any of his powers and functions to an appropriate official with the power to sub-delegate in order to maximise administrative and operational efficiency.
16.3The decisions contemplated in sections 6.9, 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 must be taken by Council and may not be delegated.

17. Appeals

A person whose rights are affected by a decision taken by the City in terms of this By-Law under a duty or power which has been delegated or sub-delegated, may appeal against that decision in terms of section 62 of the Systems Act.

18. Enforcement

18.1An authorised official may issue a person with a written warning if, in the opinion of the authorised official, that person has traded in goods or provided services in contravention of this By-Law or that person has contravened this By-Law in any other manner, including but not limited to, in violation of a permit condition, or any other applicable law.
18.2In the event of a person continuing or repeating a contravention in respect of which two (2) written warnings have already been issued to that person, then an authorised official may impound, in the case of an informal trader, any property used by the informal trader in conducting the informal trade, and in the case of any other person, any property, including but not limited to, goods, equipment, structures and motor vehicles, in which case the authorised official must -
18.2.1complete a full inventory of all the property that has been impounded and such inventory must include information on the consequences of such impoundment should the person fail to pay the impoundment costs and collect the goods;
18.2.2provide the person with a copy of the inventory; and
18.2.3immediately store the impounded property in an area designated by the City for the storage of impounded property.
18.3Property which has been impounded from a person may be released after the presentation by the person of the inventory contemplated in section 18.2 and the payment of the impoundment costs, provided that the City is reasonably satisfied that the relevant person will not, upon the release of the property, continue to commit any contravention which led to the goods being impounded; provided further that, where the City is not so satisfied, it may withhold the goods for up to 30 (thirty) days after payment of any fine and/or impoundment costs.
18.4Perishable goods that have been impounded may, at any time after the impoundment, be sold or otherwise disposed of by the City. The City may destroy the goods if the condition of those goods renders them unfit for human consumption.
18.5Impounded property other than perishable goods, may be sold by the City if the owner does not, or is unable to, pay the impoundment costs within 1 (one) month from the date of impoundment of that property.
18.6In the event of the impounded property being sold by the City in terms of sections 18.4 or 18.5, and upon the presentation of the inventory as contemplated in section by the owner, the City must pay to that owner -
18.6.1the proceeds of the sale less the impoundment costs; or
18.6.2if the owner has previously paid the impoundment costs, the proceeds must be paid to the owner free of any such deduction.
18.7If the owner does not claim the proceeds derived from the sale of the impounded goods within 3 (three) months from the date of impoundment, then the proceeds will be forfeited to the City.
18.8If in the reasonable opinion of an authorised official, an informal trader is suspected of trading in illegal goods or that a supplier as contemplated in section 12.6 is supplying the trader with illegal goods, then such goods may be immediately confiscated. In the event of such a confiscation, the authorised official must:
18.8.1complete a full inventory of all the property that has been confiscated;
18.8.2provide the informal trader or person contemplated in section 12.6 with a copy of the inventory; and
18.8.3immediately surrender the suspected illegal goods to the possession of the South African Police Service.
18.9An authorised official may issue a written warning to a mobile business operator who contravenes the universal rules contained in the Policy or any specific rules approved by Council of a MBTA.[subsection 18.9 added by section 7 of the Amendment By-law, 2025]
18.10An authorised official may, after issuing three written warnings to the same mobile business operator, suspend the mobile business operator’s permit by written notice for a period of up to one year.[subsection 18.10 added by section 7 of the Amendment By-law, 2025]
18.11A mobile business operator whose permit has been suspended may appeal in terms section 17.[subsection 18.11 added by section 7 of the Amendment By-law, 2025]

19. Offences

Any person who -
19.1contravenes any provision of this By-Law or fails to comply with any condition imposed in terms hereof;
19.2threatens, resists, interferes with or obstructs any authorised official or any employee of the City in the performance of official duties or functions in terms of or under this By-Law; or
19.3deliberately furnishes false or misleading information to an authorised official or an employee of the City;is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding R5,000.00 (five thousand Rand) or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 (three) months, subject to the Adjustment of Fines Act, No 101 of 1991.

20. Transitional provisions

Notwithstanding the enactment of this By-Law:
20.1any declaration in terms of the Businesses Act of an area within the jurisdiction of the City as an area in which the carrying on of the business of street vendor, peddlar or hawker may be restricted or prohibited, shall remain valid until such time as the City adopts a trading plan in respect of such area in terms of this By-Law;
20.2where an informal trader had been issued with a lease or permit prior to the enactment of this By-Law which permits trading from a particular bay, such lease or permit shall remain valid until an integrated permit system is adopted by the City which complies with the permit system as contemplated in this By-Law.

21. Repeal of by-laws

The following By-Laws are hereby repealed:
21.1By-Law published in Provincial Gazette of 13 December 1996, PN 522/1996, in respect of the area of the former Cape Town Municipality;
21.2By-Law published in Provincial Gazette of 23 April 1999, PN 136/1999, in respect of the area of the former City of Tygerberg;
21.3By-Law published in Provincial Gazette of 27 August 1999, PN 282/1999, in respect of the area of the former Blaauberg Municipality;
21.4By-Law published in Provincial Gazette of 20 November 1998, PN 633/1998, in respect of the area of the former South Peninsula Municipality;
21.5By-Law published in Provincial Gazette of 10 March 2000, PN 76/2000, in respect of the area of the former Helderberg Municipality;
21.6By-Law published in Provincial Gazette of 29 May 1998, PN 290/1998, in respect of the area of the former Oostenberg Municipality.

22. Short title and commencement

This By-Law is called the City of Cape Town: Informal Trading By-Law and takes effect on the date of publication in the Provincial Gazette.

History of this document

27 June 2025 this version
06 December 2013
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20 November 2009
Commenced
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