Overview
- Friday’s hearing in the Gauteng High Court was postponed to Monday to give the City of Johannesburg and SERI time to seek common ground.
- The city defends October removals as lawful enforcement of a 2022 policy and is rolling out digital smart‑card permits, with about 40 issued so far.
- Mayor Dada Morero says a verification process is required to confirm eligibility and legal status, including South African citizenship, with the city seeking 14 days to complete checks.
- SERI argues the evictions were unlawful and is asking the court to restore traders to their spots or compel a workable relocation plan, citing a 2014 Constitutional Court ruling.
- Traders protesting outside court report severe income losses since the 2 October operations, with some alleging confiscation of goods from De Villiers Street and nearby areas.