More than 1 500 informal traders in Johannesburg have filed a lawsuit of more than R120m against the City of Johannesburg for being evicted from their trading points three years ago, says a report in The Mercury. Through the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (Seri), the informal traders filed papers in the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) on behalf of 1 652 traders who were temporarily evicted from their places of business during Operation Clean Sweep in October 2013.

Seri’s Nomzamo Zondo said the traders were evicted although they had a right to trade in the area, granted through permits issued by the City of Johannesburg. After two failed High Court applications, the traders then made an urgent application in the Constitutional Court and it ruled in their favour. ‘Since then, despite repeated demands, the city has neither apologised to the traders for the harm it caused, nor offered to compensate the traders for their losses. Seri has accordingly been instructed to turn once again to the courts for relief,’ Zondo said.

Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)