Informal traders from across the Cape Peninsula were planning a picket outside the Civic Centre on Tuesday against the evictions of traders, despite the City of Cape Town’s call for them to cancel it.

The Western Cape Informal Traders Coalition claimed its members were continuously harassed by law enforcement officials.

The coalition said it had begged the city in previous meetings to consult and negotiate with traders before resorting to heavy handed evictions, but so far the city had failed to respond.

The coalition’s spokesperson Rashida Miller said the picket was going ahead.

“We have been waiting for the city for the past 30 days for a workshop which has not materialised. There’s no date or venue in place. And in the meantime, containers are being lifted, people’s goods are being confiscated. A lot of harassment is taking place.”

The city’s Paul Williamson said they did call for a meeting on Thursday with the coalition as well as a cancellation of the picket.

“Our executive director had a discussion with Rashida Miller. In terms of that discussion, the picket has been called off and the city has undertaken to meet with the coalition.”

(Edited by Danya Philander)