The City of Cape Town has been issuing permits required during lockdown for informal (uncooked) food trading and spaza shops at City facilities in various areas.
A staff member who has been assisting at some of these facilities has tested positive for COVID-19 after contracting it from a family member. The staff member is in quarantine. As part of the precautionary measures, the following permit offices are closed until further notice:
Area East
- Strand Subcouncil office
- Somerset West municipal office
- Kuils River Subcouncil office
- Khayelitsha Municipal Office/Training Centre.
Area South
- Mitchells Plain (Lentegeur Administrative Building) will open tomorrow
- Plumstead Administration Building will open tomorrow
Measures are underway to implement the necessary interventions as per the Health Protocols and Regulations before the offices can reopen. This includes the isolation of other staff members who have had contact with the official who has tested positive, as well as the deep cleansing of the above mentioned facilities. The closure seeks to protect both employees and the public from potential COVID-19 infections.
In the meantime, anyone who has visited any of these offices in the last two weeks are encouraged to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms. Should they, or anyone they are living with, present any symptoms, they should contact the provincial hotline to determine their nearest testing facility.
Permit application offices that are open:
During this time, applicants are encouraged to visit the following offices that are open on week days between 09:00 and 15:00 daily:
All traders are expected to wear masks and utilise sanitisers when they come to make permit applications.
Area Central
- Goodwood Municipal Offices, corner of Voortrekker Road, Goodwood
- Athlone Minor Hall, corner of Protea and Klipfontein Roads, Athlone
- Bellville Civic Centre and Municipal Offices, Voortrekker Road, Bellville
- Fezeka Building, c/o NY1 and Lansdowne Road, Gugulethu
Area North
- Wale Street, Cape Town CBD
- Kraaifontein Municipal offices, Kraaifontein
- Milnerton Municipal Administration Offices, Milnerton
Informal Traders should have the following documents accompanying the application:
- Identity Document or Refugee Permit
- Existing trading permit
- Concession letter
What traders need to know about the permits for lockdown and application process
These permits are only applicable to food trading as defined by the Minister’s amended regulations and goods that are allowed includes:
- fruit and vegetables
- fresh meat and fish
- sweets and cool drinks
The trading conditions for these permits are:
- Hours of trading from 08:00 to 17:00
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the trader (mask, sanitisers and gloves) and the availability of water
- No selling of unpermitted goods e.g. cigarettes
- Fresh meat and fish subject to Environmental Health certificates
- A distance of a metre apart should be maintained between trading stalls
- Customers to be a metre apart and the trader is responsible for ensuring the distance, and
- Traders should have the permit available for inspection at all times
THESE PERMITS ARE ONLY VALID FOR THE PERIOD OF THE NATIONAL LOCKDOWN.
An Urban Management Directorate Call Centre is also operational with 10 Call Centre Agents available to assist informal traders with enquiries on 021 400 3131 and select option 6.
The City pleads with all informal food traders to co-operate and work together with us in fighting this pandemic. Informal traders are reminded to please take the necessary precautionary measures to improve hygiene conditions in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Other traders who are not allowed to trade at present, as well as residents of various communities, are requested to stay off the streets and follow all the regulated guidelines as outlined in the lockdown regulations.
End
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