According to the new amendment to the 21 Days National Lockdown regulation, Minister of Corporate Governance and Traditional Affair, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced that those Informal traders that provide food services and sell food are now allow to do so. These traders will be allow to do so only if they have the relevant permit. This permit, according to the Minister, can be acquired at the municipalities or from Councillors.

Minister Dlamini-Zuma announced this during a press briefing aim to update the nation on the revised lockdown regulations, held in Pretoria on Thursday, 02 April 2020.

GOOD Secretary General, Brett Herron says they welcome the Minister of COGTA’s amendment of the lockdown regulations to permit informal trading of food supplies. Herron says his party believes that this amendment recognises that adequate access to food, in poor communities, is not through supermarkets alone and that day-to-day fresh produce is frequently purchased from informal vendors.

“Regulations that force township residents to purchase fresh produce only from supermarkets fail to take into account the significant role that informal markets play in food supply for low-income families.” Said Herron. He further stated that it is urgent that towns and cities immediately implement an efficient and quick process to provide the required written permission for informal traders to trade food supplies. “I call on Mayors and Municipal Managers to implement these amendments urgently.” Urged Herron.

-The VIP Team