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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.
The Black Business Council (BBC) has welcomed the extended deadline for spaza shop registration, stating that the previous deadline was not practical.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa had earlier announced that the process would be extended to 28 February 2025.
President Cyril Ramaphosa had initially set a 21-day deadline which was in response to the urgent need to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations following incidents of food-related illnesses.
Council CEO Kganki Matabane says, “We always knew that the 17th of December deadline was never necessarily going to be practical, but as you know, you have to put pressure on the system. So we welcome that … we agreed with the government that it must be tight so that each and every person can feel the pressure.”
“You know South Africans, if you don’t give deadlines, nothing will ever happen. And looking at the agency of the situation because people were dying, I think it made sense. But we knew that it was not going to be possible, especially because there are just so many complications.”
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Terbufos pesticide
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says it’s understood the Terbufos pesticide found in local spaza shops was not produced in South Africa – but this is yet to be confirmed.
Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria by ministers leading the national response to foodborne illness and illicit trade, Motsoaledi says they believe the Terbufos is being brought into the country through the port of Durban.
“Out of the five manufacturers of this organophosphate called Terbufos, which they have inspected and tested – they reached a conclusion that it might be coming from outside the country. Because it is not similar to the one that is manufactured by the five companies.”
“The port of Durban where there is a lot of concentration and activity and even intelligence-directed operations against the port where we believe these chemicals are coming through. Now we must do the tests to confirm exactly what it is,” the Minister explains.
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