Cape Town: City Council has officially adopted the revised Mobile Business Policy and accompanied the Informal Trading Amendment By-law for 2025, as a major milestone in the ongoing drive of the city to make Cape Town the easiest place in Africa to do business.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Growth – Alderman James Vos welcomed the adoption. He considers the policy a game changer. It has brought structure to a vibrant and entrepreneurial sector, giving mobile businesses the support and legal certainty that they need to grow and succeed.
According to Vos, the adoption of the revised policy removes inefficiencies and brings a clear, standardized, and supportive approach for mobile businesses to operate in designated areas across Cape Town.
The revised policy paves the way for the City to better regulate and support mobile business operators, such as food trucks, mobile salons, pet groomers, mobile retailers and more, also including sectors that are increasingly part of Cape Town’s urban fabric and informal economy.
The policy has undergone several rounds of public participation and was significantly improved following stakeholder input and internal review, which has been developed over five years.
Moreover, the key features of the revised policy includes:
- Three-year permit validity
- Clear and optimised designation of Mobile Business Trading Areas (MBTAs)
- Fair and transparent application processes.
According to Alderman James Vos, they have taken the time to get this right, not just to promote business innovation, but to ensure fairness, sustainability, and inclusivity. To grow, Cape Town must make room for all kinds of businesses, especially the ones that meet people where they are.
This is part of the broader mission to create an inclusive economy, especially the one that works for all Capetonians.
However, they are committed to explore new and innovative ways of doing business, and this policy proves that they are serious about backing entrepreneurs and removing unnecessary red tape.
With the newly adopted policy, the City of Cape Town will begin a new round of public participation to finalize the list of designated trading sites. Once concluded, the formal application process for mobile business permits will be launched, with user-friendly access via the City’s website, Economic Growth offices, and subcouncils.
The policy marks another significant step in the City’s work to support small business growth, create jobs, and unlock inclusive economic opportunities across Cape Town.