Cape Town — Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Velenkosini Hlabisa said Friday, 28 February, is the definitive last day for all spaza shops to register.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika on Thursday, Hlabisa said there would be no more extensions as he feels business and shop owners have had ample time to get their spaza shops registered.
“Tomorrow [28 February] is D-Day, there will be no further extensions. I visited one centre today in Tshwane metro, and we communicated that message, and we will make a broad statement tomorrow which says it’s the last day, there will be no extensions,” Hlabisa said.
He said any shops that failed to register by Friday will have until next Monday, but the shop may not be open unless it has gone through the application process and it has been completed.
“We want to appeal to our people. There is no need to arrest people. They had ample time from December to January to February to do the application and complete it. If you have not done it, don’t open your business,” he said.
On deadline to register spaza shops, Cogta Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa warns people operating without permits that they’ll face the full might of the law. “There is no need to arrest people – they had ample time… December and January – to complete the registration. If you… pic.twitter.com/aJGg1Uvx9j
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) February 27, 2025
According to SowetanLIVE, Hlabisa said one of the biggest challenges during the registration process was South Africans who registered on behalf of foreign nationals and undocumented migrants. He warned that people who register on behalf of others will be arrested.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
