Cape Town — The government announced that the deadline for all spaza shops to be registered has now been extended to 28 February 2025 in an effort to give all businesses an equal opportunity to register.
During a media briefing on Wednesday, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, announced that the deadline would be extended into next year as the government understood the concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the registration deadline.
He said the deadline was set to address the urgent need to ensure health and safety compliance standards were followed after the tragic incidents of foodborne illnesses.
The government considered whether to extend the deadline and considered its commitment to supporting small businesses and prioritising health and safety.
“In consultation with the President, therefore, the government has resolved to extend the registration deadline for all Spaza Shops and other food-handling outlets to 28 February 2025.”
“Before the revised deadline of 28 February 2025, the government in all its spheres will continue to implement the action plan to address the crisis of foodborne illnesses and the illicit trade of goods across the country,” Hlabisa added.
[BREAKING NEWS] CoGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa announces the extension of the spaza shop registration window to 28 February 2025.
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He said those who have registered their businesses were acknowledged and will need to undertake further processes to obtain their trading licenses, with help from Environmental Health Practitioners and other regulatory authorities.
He also urged business owners to continue with the registration process in their respective municipalities, and not wait until the next deadline.
“It is essential to explain that the end of this period does not mean that the process is over, a lot still needs to happen for those who have registered their businesses and others who still need to do so,” he said.
Hlabisa said the government was aware of those who encountered obstacles on their way to register their business and thanked the owners who registered their businesses on time.
“We would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have taken the time to register their businesses. This was an essential step in ensuring that these businesses uphold the dignity and protect the human lives of the public they serve from which they derive their livelihoods,” he added.
He also issued a warning to those business owners who did not register their businesses and warned them not to ignore any health compliances.
“We are, however, also aware that others have just stayed away and ignored the directive to register their businesses. We want to warn that people must register their businesses and subject these to health compliance inspections,” he said.
He added that the government and businesses have learnt valuable lessons during the registration period and said registration does not mean a business is eligible to trade, but businesses still need to comply with health regulations to obtain a license or permit to trade.
“Working together, we can build a safer, healthier, and more equitable food ecosystem for all South Africans,” he concluded.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
