Only five of the 617 spaza shop owners who applied for registration in Mogale City have been found to be fully compliant with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

The figure comes as the municipality continues its efforts to formalise the spaza shop sector through the national Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs’ (COGTA) Lokisha Kgwebo Ya Gago campaign.

The campaign, launched last year, aims to formalise spaza shops and improve compliance with the laws and regulations governing the sector.

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MCLM head of corporate communications Adrian Amod confirmed that the municipality received 617 applications from spaza shop owners as part of the registration process. However, compliance assessments found that only five of these businesses met all the applicable requirements.

“While the low level of compliance remains a concern, the city’s Business Support Section continues to provide education, support and training to assist business owners in meeting the necessary legal and regulatory requirements,” said Amod.

The municipality said it remains committed to working with informal traders to improve compliance while supporting local economic development. Efforts to regularise and formalise non-compliant businesses are ongoing.

Residents are meanwhile urged to exercise caution when purchasing goods from non-compliant spaza shops, as such businesses may pose health and safety risks.

These risks include the sale of expired, counterfeit or contaminated food products, which can result in illness and, in severe cases, death.

Spaza shop owners who have not yet registered are encouraged to collect an application form for a business licence from the Economic Development Services Department, located on the third floor of the Furn City Building at the corner of Human and Kruger streets in Krugersdorp.

Application forms are also available on request via frieda.gumede@mogalecity.gov.za or can be downloaded from the MCLM website.

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Completed applications must be accompanied by the following supporting documentation:

• certified copy of a valid South African ID
• certified copy of a valid passport with a visa authorising business operations, or a certified copy of an asylum seeker permit
• certified copy of a valid business licence
• certified copy of Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) registration documents
• certified copy of SARS registration documents
• original proof of residence
• certified copy of a business bank account
• certificate of Acceptability issued by the West Rand District Municipality (WRDM)
• fire compliance certificate issued by the WRDM