Over the coming weeks, the City of Cape Town will be contacting informal traders who are registered on the City’s database, have COVID-19 permits and concession letters, in preparation of the CPT+U COVID-19 Informal Traders’ Toolkits that will be launched.
Informal trading is a vital part of our economy and provides an income for many families.
As part of our ongoing efforts to support this industry, even more so during the pandemic, the City will be issuing 10 000 COVID-19 Informal Traders’ Toolkits to qualifying informal traders so they and their customers can continue to do business in a safe environment, which practices COVID-19 protocols.
‘Entrepreneurs and small businesses have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Cape Town is offering this toolkit to the informal sector to help them take the necessary precautions to reopen safely and resume trading as required by the lockdown regulations. The City is committed to doing all it can to support residents, traders and small business owners to provide some reassurance and comfort during this challenging period. This toolkit is one of the many initiatives we have rolled out to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on our residents,’ said Executive Mayor Dan Plato.
Each toolkit, which is free of charge to informal traders, will contain the following items:
- Three litres of hand sanitiser
- A social-distancing mat to remind customers to keep 1,5m from traders
- Two cloth masks
- A warm winter beanie
- A toolkit bag
- Information on how to operate safely during the pandemic
Informal traders who are registered with the City’s database, have COVID-19 permits and concession letters, will be contacted by the City via SMS and will need to indicate if they are interested in the offer.
Thereafter, more details, including those related to the collection of the toolkits, will be communicated directly to qualifying informal traders as the process continues. Traders will receive a confirmation SMS, including a date for an appointment, when their toolkits are ready for collection.
It is important to note that there are a limited number of toolkits available so these will be issued on a first-come first-served basis.
‘As a caring City, we are making every effort to provide the necessary support to our informal traders so they can continue to trade and earn a living during the pandemic. We are very excited about the 10 000 toolkits for informal traders, because it is the City’s support in action, and we look forward to finalising the plans over the coming weeks to launch this initiative. We ask informal traders who are registered on our database, have COVID-19 permits and concession letters, to ensure their contact details on the City’s records are up-to-date.
‘As this campaign rolls out, we will also continue to engage with informal traders to better understand their challenges and needs so that we can continue to support them going forward,’ said Alderman Grant Twigg, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management.
The City’s Enterprise and Investment Department initiated the SMMEs Toolkit initiative in May which has concluded successfully. The department is now working with Urban Management on this initiative.
‘We are very excited that informal traders will be receiving COVID-19 toolkits, which includes items that are specific to their needs. To date, 3 000 toolkits have also been issued to SMMEs to help them get back to work safely. Through this initiative, the City is trying to lighten the load on these businesses, who are paying out of their own pockets to comply with COVID-19 measures. There is no other option if we are going to reduce the spread of this virus and keep our economy open.
‘It fills me with joy that this initiative received global recognition and will be used as an example of best practice for cities around the world. The uptake of the toolkit applications and ensuing gratitude received from the business fraternity on various social media platforms and emails in Cape Town has been phenomenal. The City will continue to assist SMMEs during this difficult time,’ said Alderman James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management.
For more information and/or queries regarding the toolkits, please call 021 400 3131 (select option 6 for informal trading) or email informal.trading@capetown.gov.za or Business.support@capetown.go.za.
How to apply for an informal trading permit
Unemployed individuals are encouraged to apply for an informal trading permit. South African citizens will need to provide their IDs and foreign nationals will need to provide proof of their legal status in South Africa.
It’s easy to apply for an informal trading permit by completing the online application on the City’s e-Services website. Do it by following these simple steps:
- Register for the City of Cape Town’s e-Services
- Activate the informal trading service on e-Services
- Apply for a trading bay
For more information about registration, please visit this link.