Friday marks the final day for spaza shop owners to submit their business registration applications, but the wait to know the status of their applications will continue.
Over the past 21 days, shop owners have queued to complete the required process, a directive issued by President Cyril Ramaphosa in November.
The registration mandate follows a rise in food-borne illnesses allegedly linked to products sold at spaza shops.
On Thursday, the Gauteng government provided an update, revealing that nearly 2,000 shop owners have been unable to finalise their applications due to incomplete documentation, such as approved building plans and certificates of acceptability.
For those who managed to submit their paperwork, Gauteng acting premier Lebogang Maile emphasised that submission does not equate to automatic registration.
“For instance, food-handling facilities require inspections before a certificate of compliance can be issued.”
Meanwhile, enforcement efforts have already seen 540 spaza shops shut down across Gauteng for failing to meet compliance standards.
The registration process is part of a broader initiative aimed at ensuring public safety and improving accountability among spaza shop operators, particularly in the wake of health concerns tied to their operations.
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