Staff Reporter
Fruit and vegetable vendors will now be permitted to operate following the amendments to South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown regulations, which now allow for informal food trading.
The informal traders will however require written permission from municipalities for them to be able to operate.
Following this relaxation of the lockdown restrictions – imposed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19 or the coronavirus – the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality is now inviting informal traders within its jurisdiction to apply for the special operating permits.
According to the municipality, which governs Bloemfontein and surrounding towns in the Free State, no trade will be allowed in the central business districts during the lockdown period, with the operating hours being limited to 0700-1700 hours daily.
“Informal traders are expected to adhere to basic hygiene requirements and municipal health regulations. They should have either sanitisers or hand soap and water,” Mangaung Metro spokesperson Qondile Khedama said in a statement.
“These permits will be issued for traders dealing with uncooked products – that is fruit and vegetables only.”
He added: “Law enforcement will be monitoring that all informal traders that have been issued permits are complying with the informal trading by-law.”