Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, announced that over 13,000 applications have been submitted for spaza shop registrations in the province, including more than 2,000 from foreign nationals.
However, nearly 2,000 applications remain incomplete, leaving shop owners with limited time to rectify their submissions. The deadline for registration is Friday, December 13, 2024.
The registration initiative, introduced by President Cyril Ramaphosa, aims to address recent food poisoning incidents that have claimed the lives of over 23 children.
These fatalities were linked to contaminated snacks purchased from unregistered foreign-owned spaza shops run by undocumented individuals.
The process also seeks to tackle the use of hazardous chemicals, such as Terbufos and Aldicarb, which were detected in the snacks consumed by the victims.
Speaking at a media briefing in Bramley, Johannesburg, on Wednesday, Maile provided an update on the registration process.
He reported that as of December 10, 2024, 13,616 application forms had been issued, with 1,916 forms returned, some missing critical documentation.
He further revealed that 2,605 applications have been submitted by foreign nationals, primarily from areas such as the City of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, the West Rand District Municipality (which includes Merafong, Rand West City, and Mogale City), and the Sedibeng District Municipality (comprising Emfuleni, Midvaal, and Lesedi local municipalities).
Maile highlighted that collaboration with township property owners has helped increase compliance rates.
He assured business owners that the registration process has been simplified to reduce bureaucratic challenges while maintaining regulatory standards.
“Additionally, three municipalities, including City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane and City of Ekurhuleni, have digitised their application process, while other municipalities are in various stages of the digitisation of the process,” Maile said.
He added that municipalities are currently working to establish by-laws governing spaza shop ownership. To date, a total of 541 spaza shops have been closed due to non-compliance.
According to Maile, common compliance issues include the lack of registration with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), absence of certificates of acceptability or environmental health approvals, and failure to pay for operating licenses issued by municipalities.
Businesses operating from unsafe or hazardous premises have also been shut down.
As the registration deadline nears, tuck shop owners across the country are making last-minute efforts to ensure compliance and avoid potential closures.
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