Joburg street traders accuse metro police of harassment and bribery

By Lebone Rodah Mosima

A street traders organisation in Johannesburg has accused the city and metro police of conducting illegal operations and taking part in “extortion” against informal traders.

During a march on Thursday, the Johannesburg Informal Traders Development Powerhouse (JOWEDET) delivered a memorandum to the city, calling for tighter management and regulation of the inner city.

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Better management, JOWEDET said, would address overcrowding and “disorder” in trading precincts.

JOWEDET alleged the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officers were demanding permits that had not been issued to informal traders.

The organisation also claimed an extortion syndicate was operating within metro police. It said some officers were demanding thousands of rands from traders in exchange for allowing them to operate, even when valid permits were presented.

“[T]he men and women in uniform betray their oath of office to protect