Comment on proposed changes to Informal Trading By-law for mobile businesses

22 May 2023

The public have the opportunity from today, Monday 22 May until Thursday 22 June 2023 to comment on the proposed amendments to the Informal Trading By-law. These proposals are an important part of the process to allow mobile businesses, like food trucks and services offered from trailers, to operate on City-land in Cape Town. 

The City's Informal Trading By-law assists the City to declare an informal trading plan for any place or area within its area of control. The plan identifies dedicated, restricted or prohibited areas for informal trading in that place or area.

The City is amending the provisions in the by-law to enable the operation of mobile businesses, including:

·       the establishment of mobile business trading areas

·       the decommissioning of existing mobile business trading areas

·       types of recognised mobile businesses

·       permits for mobile businesses

This by-law amendment is important because it represents City innovation and is a key component in the City's development of its draft Mobile Business Policy. With this amendment, the City aims to:

·       regulate mobile business operators and trading areas

·       respond to the increased market demand for mobile business operations

·       support local economic development and using public places positively by supporting this emergent form of formal business activity

'The public have the opportunity to be a part of Cape Town's journey of setting up the processes to help support mobile businesses, like food trucks, barber shops and clothing shops, which are growing in popularity.

'There are two opportunities for public comment. The most recent being the amendments to the Informal Trading by-law and then the proposed mobile business trading areas. These, coupled with the draft Mobile Business Policy, aim to collectively help this growing sector.

'The City wants to make it easier for businesses to operate in this sector on City-land so don't miss out on this opportunity to comment,' said Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.

View the proposed amendments online:

www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay

Submit your comments by:

•      Email: Mobile.BusinessPolicy@capetown.gov.za

•      Website: www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay

•      Hand: At your local subcouncil office

Way forward:

·        The public participation process for the proposed amendments to the Informal Trading By-law starts today.

·        The proposed mobile business trading areas are out for comment until Thursday, 15 June 2023. See: www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay

·        Once these two processes have been completed, they will be tabled with the draft Mobile Business Policy at the Portfolio Committee; Mayoral Committee meeting and Council for consideration and approval.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office