JDA spearheads Inner City street and informal trading plan

Addressing existing urban challenges, including conflicts between pedestrians and traders

By Business Reporter

JDA says the plan will also introduce robust legal and policy mechanisms for effective informal trade management.       Image: COJ / Sowetan

The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), acting on behalf of the City’s Development Planning Department, has initiated the formulation of a comprehensive Inner City Street and Informal Trading Plan.

 This strategic undertaking, scheduled from January 2025 to July 2026, represents a pivotal step in transforming Joburg’s Inner City into a more inclusive, accessible, and economically dynamic urban landscape.

The initiative seeks to establish a cohesive framework for informal trading activities across the Inner City, simultaneously promoting spatial equity and urban health. “This plan is fundamentally about recognition, inclusion, and intelligent urban design,” said Themba Mathibe, Chief Executive Officer of the JDA.

“Informal trading constitutes an indispensable element of our City’s economy and cultural fabric. By crafting accessible, functional, and resilient trading environments, we are cultivating a Johannesburg that serves all its inhabitants.”

The planning process will entail extensive public engagement with affected stakeholders, culminating in a spatial blueprint that delineates specific trading zones and defines typologies tailored to diverse urban conditions.

These innovative concepts include, but are not limited to, night markets, the adaptive repurposing of shopping mall parking areas, activation of public squares such as Gandhi Square on weekends, and the innovative use of pedestrian bridges for structured trade.

A core tenet of the plan is the assurance of universal design access, encompassing inclusive infrastructure for traders and customers with disabilities, the elderly, and those with mobility impairments.

This approach aligns with the City’s commitment to constructing an equitable and user-friendly urban environment for every citizen.

Addressing existing urban challenges, including conflicts between pedestrians and traders, inadequate ablution and storage facilities, service delivery constraints, safety concerns, and xenophobic tensions, the plan will also introduce robust legal and policy mechanisms for effective informal trade management.

To gain a granular understanding of traders’ needs, the JDA has commissioned surveys targeting 100 traders across four key city nodes. Insights gleaned from these surveys will directly inform the development of a detailed implementation strategy, complete with budgetary allocations, phased roll-out, and prioritised infrastructure investments.

This initiative is an integral component of Joburg’s broader inner-city revitalisation efforts, supporting the vision of a well-regulated, inclusive, and opportunity-driven trading environment.

Additional Information By: COJ