Spaza shop registration deadline fast approaching
Spaza shop or food handling business owners are being reminded of the pending deadline of February 28 to have their businesses registered.
REGISTERING your spaza shop or food handling business by the deadline of February 28 has become a must for all business owners who are looking to continue trading in South Africa as the national crackdown on unregistered operators continues.
In eThekwini, 4600 spaza shop owners have successfully registered their businesses following the national call. Among those who successfully registered their business is James Abdool, a tuckshop owner from the north of Durban who praised the city for taking the initiative of protecting both the vendors and customers.
Abdool said he registered the tuckshop at the Embassy Building on Anton Lembede Street. “I have had my licence for over eight years. The process was easy to do as we just had to fill out the forms and presented the relevant documents along with it. We paid our fee and the worst part was the wait and the inspections that had to be done to get approval.”
Also Read: 5 places to register your spaza shop or food handling outlet in Durban
The Somali national said, even before the crackdown, the City officials would come around every Friday to do shop checks. “If you are living in your shop, have rats or cockroaches running around, they do not pass your shop,” said Abdool. “They check expiry dates on food products and if there is any cross contamination, especially with fridges that have meat, they do not pass you. If you are cooking in the shop, they check your stove and if it’s dirty they do not give you a certificate.”
Municipal spokesperson, Gugu Sisislana, said, “This process involves submitting all required departmental documents, passing inspections by environmental health practitioners and safety and fire officers, and meeting other compliance checks. For foreign nationals, proof of a valid work permit was also verified with the Department of Home Affairs.”
Tuckshop owners who sell items from their homes also need to have a food licence (ITEM 1) for sale and supply of any foodstuffs or perishable foodstuffs. The licence is renewed annually between December 1 and January 31 and there are no costs for renewing it.
To register your spaza shop or food handling outlet in Durban, visit or phone the following places:
- Embassy Building: 7th Floor, 199 Anton Lembede Street: Tel: 031 311 4535.
- Sizakala Centre Winklespruit: 11 Grace Dale Road, Winklespruit: Tel: 031 322 1803.
- Sizakala Centre Pinetown Civic Centre: 60 Kings Road, Pinetown: Tel: 031 311 5870.
- Sizakala Centre Verulam: Ground Floor, 151 Wick Street, Verulam: Tel: 031 322 1803.
- Sizakala Centre Midway Mall: Newlands West: Tel: 031 311 4387 or visit Business Licensing eServices webpage on: durban.gov.za.
For more information, tuckshop owners can contact the Business licensing unit on 031 311 4535 or visit 7th floor, Embassy building, 199 Anton Lembede Street in the Durban CBD.
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