It has been noted with great concern that the activities of certain NGOs have been increasingly and more intensely against the enforcement of laws and by-laws aimed at making South Africa’s towns and cities safe for citizens. Non Governmental Organisations, such as SERI and others are collaborating in efforts to challenge the “cleanup” activities conducted by the City of Johannesburg’s law enforcement structures. This unlawful trading they seek to defend includes illegal and unhygienic food stalls and various merchandise stalls. The erection of these stalls in this manner limits freedom of movement for pedestrians on the pavements. This forces pedestrians to walk on the street edges which puts their safety at risk. The overcrowding of the pavements also results in loss of business for authorised traders who occupy stores along these pavements. These crowded pavements have also gained a reputation for being “no go areas”. On a daily basis ordinary citizens get robbed of their valuable possessions and perpetrators are never located due to the overcrowding.

During the month of July 2022, the City of Johannesburg attempted to clean up the street in the CBD. The initiative involved ensuring that informal traders in the city are verified and that they only conduct their trade in designated trading areas as stipulated in their licence conditions. This has resulted in a backlash from organisations such as SAITF, SERI and others who went to court to prevent the clean up operation and implementation of by-laws at Johannesburg Park Station and at De Villiers street. The courts have subsequently ruled in favour of SAITF and SERI on the matter. As a result of the court order the clean up was halted and the City of Johannesburg was ordered to comply with a previously issued order regarding clean up operations. Since the court order was issued it has been noted with great concern that these affected zones have returned to overcrowded and unhygienic conditions due to the uncontrolled and illegal trading that has returned to the area. The problems noted in Johannesburg CBD are similar to those experienced in other areas such as Pretoria CBD, Sunnyside and Durban CBD.