Cape Town – Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has clarified confusion around the spaza shop registration deadline, extending it to Tuesday, 17 December.
The 21-day registration period began after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 15 November announcement requiring all spaza shops to register with municipalities to address food safety concerns linked to child deaths.
“The 21 days began the Monday after the president’s address and did not include weekends. If this coming Monday was not a public holiday, the deadline would have been Monday.
“A circular will be produced today to confirm that the deadline is Tuesday and not tomorrow. We are really sorry for any confusion,” The Citizen quoted Cogta head of communications Legadima Leso as saying.
Non-compliant shops face closure.
Gauteng authorities on Wednesday said they had received only 1,916 completed forms out of 13,616 issued to both local and foreign shop owners since November 15.
This update was provided by Gauteng Finance and Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile during a briefing in Bramley, Johannesburg.
Progress on Spaza Shop Registrations – GP
As of the 10th of December 2024, the number of spaza shops issued with registration forms stands at 13 616 , of which 1 916 (some of the applications are incomplete, missing critical supporting documents) have been returned. At present,… pic.twitter.com/nPJ7x3RVrT
— Lebogang Maile (@LebogangMaile1) December 11, 2024
“As of December 10, the number of spaza shops issued with registration forms stands at 13,616, of which 1,916 have been returned,” said Maile.
He added: So far 2,605 applications have been issued to non-South African spaza shop owners based on data from the City of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, West Rand district municipality (comprising Merafong, Rand West City and Mogale City municipalities) and the Sedibeng district municipality (comprising Emfuleni, Midvaal and Lesedi municipalities).”
However, nearly 2,000 applications are incomplete, he said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
