Strict conditions of COVID-19 trading permits still apply until further notice

07 May 2020

Statement by the Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management, Alderman Grant Twigg

Informal traders and spaza shop owners are reminded that the current conditions of their COVID-19 permits allowing them to trade during the lockdown are still applicable until further notice.

More than 8 953 COVID-19 Informal Food Trading permits were issued during Alert Level 5 by Thursday 30 April.

The Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs published new regulations on Wednesday 29 April 2020, in line with national government’s response to Alert Level 4, which requires permits for essential services and permitted activities. The new regulations also increased the commodities that can be sold during this level by various sectors.

The City is waiting for the Small Business Enterprise Regulations, which governs the operation of the Spaza shops and informal traders, under Alert Level 4 to be gazetted, which will determine the way forward for these businesses. Until such time, the current conditions of their COVID-19 trading permits still apply.

The previous regulations only allowed for the trading of limited items, including uncooked food, fruit and vegetables etc.

The new regulations now include, among other commodities:

1.    Food products, including non -alcoholic beverages and animal food.
2.    The sale of hot cooked food, only for home delivery.
3.    Toilet Paper, sanitary pads, sanitary tampons, and condoms.
4.    Hand sanitiser, disinfectants, soap, alcohol for industrial use, household cleaning products, and personal protective equipment.
5.    Products for the care of babies and toddlers.
6.    Personal toiletries, including haircare, body, face, hand and foot care products, roll-ons, deodorants, dental care products.
7.    Medical and Hospital Supplies, medicine, equipment and personal protective equipment.
8.    Fuel and lighting, including coal, wood, paraffin and gas.
9.    Airtime and electricity.
10. Hardware, components and supplies.
11. Components for vehicles undergoing emergency repairs
12. Chemicals, packaging and ancillary products used in the production of any these products listed in Part E.
13. Textiles required to produce face masks and other personal protective equipment and winter clothing.
14. Winter clothing, footwear, bedding and heaters and the components and fabrics required to manufacture these.
15. Children's clothing and fabrics and components required to manufacture these.
16. Stationery and educational books.
17. Personal ICT equipment including computers, mobile telephones and other home office equipment.
18. No sale of liquor permitted.
19. Directions may permit the incremental expansion of e-Commerce, taking into account the need to limit the extent of movement on the road, contact between people, law-enforcement challenges and the impact on other businesses

The City is exploring further mechanisms of implementing the new regulations in an efficient manner that also aligns to the Level 4 directives.

What you need to know about COVID-19 trading permits

COVID-19 trading permits issued during Alert Level 5 are still valid until further notice. Traders can apply to extend the commodities on their current permit, provided that the City has a record of them selling these items prior to COVID-19.
Only existing informal traders who registered with the City prior to COVID-19 and who have a trading permit, and those who have a concession letter, can apply for new COVID-19 permits.
No new COVID-19 permits will be issued to new traders (i.e. traders who are not already registered with the City prior to COVID-19)

Application process for new and amended COVID-19 trading permits

It should be further noted that the latest national regulations relating to COVID-19 Level 4 still prohibits flea markets from operation so all markets and clustered trading bays will remain closed.

Traders will be required to bring along their:

identity document
approved permit / informal trading concession letter to apply for the COVID-19 permit and
copies of all submitted documents.

These permits allow the trader to travel between their place of residence, place of work and to fetch stock.

Reminder of trading conditions

Informal traders are requested to continue to adhere to the following conditions when trading:

Hours of trading from 08:00 -17:00
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the trader (masks, sanitisers and gloves) and availability of water.
A distance of five meters should be maintained between trading stalls
Customers need to be 1,5 meters apart and the trader is responsible for ensuring the distance, and
Traders should have the permit available for inspection at all times

The City urges with all informal food traders to co-operate and work together with us in fighting this pandemic. Informal traders are reminded to please take the necessary precautionary measures to improve hygiene conditions in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Then a special request to all other traders who are not allowed to trade and residents of our various communities must please stay off the streets and follow all the regulated guidelines as outlined in the lockdown regulations.

Informal traders can call the City’s Urban Management Directorate Call Centre for more information on 021 400 3131 and select option 6.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office

informal traders urban management