The Informal Economy Development Forum on the scrapping of permit fees for informal traders

Recently, our President of the Informal Economy Development Forum (IEDF) Rosheda Muller, was interviewed by the SABC to discuss the IEDF’s views on the scrapping of permit fees for informal traders, as one of the policy resolutions taken at the 55th ANC national conference, held in Bloemfontein in January 2023. 

We, as the IEDF are in support of this policy resolution. 

However, as the saying goes, “once bitten twice shy”. Hence, our question to all our constituents within the Informal Economy is this; how do we ensure that this policy resolution by the ANC is indeed passed and adopted as bylaws in our municipalities across the country, as soon as possible? 

Firstly, we need to understand what our by-laws are: “By-laws are laws that are adopted by the council of a

municipality to regulate the affairs and the services within the jurisdiction of the municipality. A municipality derives the power to adopt a by-law from the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.”i 

Secondly, we need to acknowledge that the process of bringing by-laws at a municipal level is not a speedy one as it will go to political contesting; and we as the Informal Economy of South Africa, do not have the luxury of arduous political debating. 

And finally, we are therefore demanding that the regulation of permits augur well for all Informal Economy Workers across the country in aiding them maintain their livelihoods, without any further delay.  

Let us not forget, as a country we are at economic cross-roads in our country. We have recently come out of COVID-19 and currently trading in a 4IR environment. High unemployment: ~35% nationally with Youth unemployment at >~50%, with a further tough economic environment predicted at a GDP growth of 1.1% in 2023, thus our situation seems direii. 

However, as the most significant unified voice of South Africa we are saying there remains hope, that hope is in the strength of our unified numbers as the Informal Economy of South Africa.