All eyes on spaza shops as re-registration deadline looms
Spaza shops and vendors in Mogale City can expect authorities to do background checks in collaboration with law enforcement agencies to verify the legality of the applicant’s business activities.
The government and the municipality are on a mission to ensure that spaza shops and vendors are legally registered.
Recently, Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) emphasised there is a deadline for re-registration of these businesses which is December 13. They further warned that if not, those who broke the law will suffer serious consequences.
In the most recent update and following the launch of the ‘Fix Your Business’ campaign, MCLMs Local Economic Development (LED) Services has observed that many foreign nationals are assisted by South Africans to illegally register their spaza shops or vendors.
MCLM communications practitioner Tendani Shavhani said LED strongly condemns this practice and warns that action will be taken against those found to be involved as this undermines the municipality’s and country’s efforts alike to compile accurate data and enforce compliance with regulations.
“Residents are further forewarned that under the Immigration Act of 2002, it is a criminal offence to assist or enable an undocumented foreign national to operate a business in South Africa. In cases where public health issues such as food poisoning arise from these spaza shops, registered owners and not persons operating the shops will be held legally accountable. This includes any hospitalisations or fatalities that may result, making it crucial for locals to assess the risks of associating themselves with such conduct,” Shavhani warned.
LED also encouraged all local property owners leasing their premises to business owners to ensure that they comply with the request to formally register their business by December 13.
Shavhani added that several requirements need to be met to ensure the successful registration of a spaza shop or business.
“These include a correctly completed application form obtainable from our Enterprise and Rural Development offices or website. Proof of residence, business registration with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and proof of ownership or permission to utilise the business premises is also required. In addition to the above, a zoning certificate, consent use comment from the municipality’s Town Planning Division as well as a certificate of acceptability from Environmental Health and a municipality-determined payment must be submitted and approved before a business licence can be issued.
“Foreign nationals will be required to also provide valid documentation from the Department of Home Affairs, authorising them to operate a business in South Africa. This must be in the form of a valid temporary or permanent residence visa or an asylum seekers/ refugee permit,” Shavhani emphasised.
In conclusion, Shavhani said that before issuing a permit, the municipality will also conduct background checks in collaboration with law enforcement agencies to verify the legality of the applicant’s business activities.
“Once the applicant satisfies all the conditions stated by the municipality, they will be issued with a registration card or permit that must always be displayed and available for inspections.”
