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Police and officials conduct a product inspection during a spaza shop compliance and verification operation in the West Coast on 07 December 2024.
Some spaza shop owners in Durban fear that they might not meet the 21-day deadline to register their businesses, saying it is a strenuous process.
Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has confirmed that the deadline for the registration of spaza shops, as President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed, expires next Tuesday.
The registration requirement is government’s response to increasing cases of suspected food poisoning in the country from items purchased at spaza shops, which has led to the death of over 20 children.
One spaza shop owner says, “I have not yet registered. The process is too long and stressful. There are too many documents required, and the 21 days is too short. I stay in an area ruled by a traditional leader and getting proof of residence is an issue. There are many other documents they want, and you can’t get urgently. They need to extend the dates.”
Another owner says, “I run a fruit and vegetable business in a container but due to the demarcation I have to move it to a more suitable place according to municipality. I don’t have a place and money to do so. I fear I might lose my only source of income.”
Meanwhile, the Ethekwini Municipality is on campaign to ensure compliance of the spaza shop industry which contributes around R55 billion to the metro’s GDP.
The industry employs more than 260 000 people.
The municipality held a registration blitz in Umlazi, south of Durban, on Tuesday.
Locals in the area were also cautioned against registering on behalf of foreign nationals.
Gauteng
Meanwhile, in Gauteng, Finance and Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile says of the more than 13 600 registration forms issued to spaza shops, just over 4 500 have been returned as of Tuesday.
Maile says during this period, about 541 of these spaza shops were closed for non-compliance.
-Additional reporting by SABC News
