City Set to Resume Control of Historic Greenmarket Square on 1 December

A City task team met this morning to finalise logistical planning to ensure a smooth transition on Saturday.

"The area has played a significant role in the history of the Mother City since the first trading ships berthed in Table Bay in the late seventeenth century and used it as an area for trading goods and acquiring victuals for the rest of their voyage to the East," says Simon Grindrod, Mayoral Committee Member for Social, Economic Development and Tourism. "Today, trade continues in the form of a vibrant flea market surrounded by restaurants, a combination which is finding increasing favour with citizens and tourists alike and it is fitting that the control of Greenmarket Square once again rests with the City."

At the end of the festive season, the City will embark on a major upgrade of the Square. The intention is to restore the Square to its former glory and make it a prime tourist attraction for 2010 - when it will be 300 years old.

The traders who have registered and are thus on the City's database, will become part of the consultative process when the upgrade program starts, a process that will also involve adjoining property owners and other interested parties as well.

Mansoor Mohamed, the City's Executive Director: Economic, Social Development and Tourism, says: "I visited the Square and spoke to the traders. They are quietly optimistic about the City resuming control and believe that our involvement will enable them to achieve their full economic potential".

"The changes at Greenmarket Square are not happening in isolation. The City is taking steps to regulate informal trading across the city - the improvements to the Station Deck and Mitchells Plain CBD has already started. Cleaner and safer trading areas will bring more people and tourists which means more business for the traders", Mohamed added.

Of the 230 traders operating on the square, 226 applied for permits. To date the City has approved 151 permits. The remainder are being processed.

"Traders are collecting their permits and we are confident that all the entitled traders will be permitted and trading by Saturday", Mohammed said.

To ensure a trouble-free transition to the new informal trading permit system on 1 December 2007, members of the Metro Police Services will be on standby at the Square.

"Traders must rest assured that the City will not allow a situation to prevail which results in traders being prevented from collecting their permits or being exploited over rent issues," says Grindrod.

The collection or demand of "rent" from a trader by any party other than the City will be illegal from 1 December 2007 and will not be tolerated. Any trader who is faced with attempts to intimidate or coerce him/her into making a payment to any party other than the City, must immediately notify the City officials on duty at the Square or lay a charge with the
South African Police Services.

All traders are urged to have their permits available and ready for inspection on 1 December 2007 and thereafter, as the principle of "no permit no trade" will apply and this too will be enforced by the Metro Police.

Issued by:
Directorate: Communication
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 2201

Media Queries:
Mansoor Mohamed
Tel: 021 400 2589
Cell: 084 421 4428