Spaza shop registration deadline approaches: What you need to know

Spaza Shops

Cape Town – The South African Spaza and Township Economic Commission of South Africa (TECSA) has urged spaza shop owners to register their businesses as part of a government-led initiative aimed at improving health and safety standards.

This comes after suspected food poisoning incidents linked to spaza shops led to the deaths of several children.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 21-day spaza shop registration deadline ends on Tuesday, but TECSA and SA Spaza have committed to assisting owners with the registration process beyond the deadline, SABC reported.

The registration process includes obtaining documents like rezoning certificates, SARS compliance, and trade permits, which TECSA acknowledges may take longer than the given timeframe.

Those that will be applying for new licenses, it doesn’t mean that they won’t be able to apply after the 18th. Those that will be starting from scratch because they see the opportunity, they are also welcome to come to municipal offices and apply for the new registration,” the report quoted SA Spaza president Bheki Twala as saying.

ALSO READ | Gauteng spaza registration: 1,916 applications submitted as deadline draws near

Last week, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa clarified confusion around the spaza shop registration deadline, extending it to Tuesday, 17 December.

The 21-day registration period began after Ramaphosa’s 15 November announcement requiring all spaza shops to register with municipalities.

“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.

The government will assess applications after the deadline to ensure compliance with health and operational standards.

Non-compliant shops face closure.

Meanwhile, Gauteng authorities last 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.

“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).”

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