Only municipalities can issue permits.
Traditional leaders do not have the powers to issue permits, government officials have said.
Only municipalities can issue permits during lockdown and not the traditional authorities.
The Bushbuckridge municipality said they heard that there were some chiefs who were issuing trading permits to informal business traders in the Bushbuckridge area and want to warn against that.
Spokesman Aubrey Mnisi said while President Cyril Ramaphosa announced some regulations would be eased to allow informal traders to do business, the public is being warned not to get these permits from chiefs.
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Mnisi said the public should not “be misled” to apply for permits from chiefs “as this is illegal”.
“The municipality is the legal custodian permitted to issue trading licenses and permits, anyone found to be in possession of a permit or license issued by any traditional authority will be arrested and prosecuted since the piece of paper is null and void,” Mnisi said.
All informal traders in the area should go and apply for special permits at the Information
Centre of the Bushbuckridge local municipality on the R40 Road, Opposite Twin City Shopping Centre next to Super Quick or alternatively contact the business licensing officer on 081 044 2050 during office hours.
Traders with licenses or permits should bring these documents along.
(edited by MLM)
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