He said the city was putting into effect a long-term strategy, dubbed Tshwane 2055, to overthrow "anarchy".

"It's going to be a very painful exercise and there will be casualties," he said.

"People are used to the status quo and we are tampering with that status quo. Naturally, people respond by resisting."

The city has been at loggerheads with informal traders and some residents who were forced to vacate their stalls and flats.

Yesterday, Tshwane Hawkers Association chairman Shoes Maloka said his organisation was planning a protest march in the city this week. The Schubart Park Residents Committee also said it had scheduled its protest march for July 26.

"They have the right to march and we (will) give them the necessary permits to march. They should march in a manner that is consistent with the law; we will take the pain," said Ramokgopa.

The municipality was engaging in a strategy to revitalise the Pretoria's city centre that was aimed at attracting business investments to the inner city.

"We want to bring life into the inner city. Part of the problem we are dealing with is that the city goes to sleep at six in the evening. We want to have some residential character - where people can wine and dine."

Ramokgopa said the municipality would soon announce the launch of an operation code-named "Reclaim".

The Tshwane Hawkers Association earlier said efforts to regulate hawkers in the inner city, had left some young people h with no means of income, resorting to crime.

"Many young people have now abandoned the honest business of selling. Some have resorted to crime while others spend days gambling around the city to eke (out) a living," said Maloka. "Since January we have not been able to make money through selling in the city. Remember most of us are breadwinners and we have many (financial) commitments."

Maloka said the vendors were incensed because officials were relocating them from their usual stalls to new posts on the outskirts of the city.

Comments

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Wed May 22 22:01:59 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 17, 2012

letsetse

This is long overdue ,businesses have been complaining for long with regard to littering infront of their shops and crowding
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Jul 17, 2012

Sugaar

They must start at Marabastard.
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Jul 17, 2012

MommaC

Freedom doesn't mean the freedom to just take over everything for free.
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Jul 17, 2012

Nys1

It’s work in progress , but I think the council is on something...Big ups
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Jul 17, 2012

Hail

That is great! hey we tired with all the fruits and vegetables all over the pavement and is hard for pedestrains to walk! while on it do something about the Munotiria build a taxi rank or something bcos even those taxis is a headache. If he can build a place where people can catch taxis than everywhere anywhere.
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Jul 17, 2012

truthhurt

He must start with cleaning up the Municipality's Finance Department, customer care is a disgrace.
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Jul 17, 2012

tpaz

Van De Walt -Lilian Ngoyi Street is now a breeze to walk through.
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Jul 17, 2012

MSG_S

Good move. All the cities will have to follow suit. OH! by the way Mr Mayor dont forget to tell us that you are also going to show your subordinates where the door is, should they not clean up their corrupted minds promptly.
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Jul 17, 2012

Mokwepa

also provide parking in cbd, we get tickets daily fo parking.
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Jul 17, 2012

lindsay

pfim deuschebag
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