Tuckshop owner fined R6 000 for non-compliance
The business based in Montclair was found to be non-compliant with eThekwini Municipality’s health and safety bylaws.
A TUCKSHOP owner was fined R6 000 for non-compliance with eThekwini Municipality’s bylaws during a joint enforcement operation held on Wood Road in Montclair recently.
The aim of the campaign was to check if businesses were complaint with health and safety regulations. The joint operation between metro police, Montclair police and eThekwini Municipality raided a number of tuckshops where expired food items were confiscated.
Also read: eThekwini Municipality urges businesses to renew trading licences
This expired foodstuff was disposed of and notices issued. The campaign was led by the South Durban Basin Area-Based Management office.
This bylaw enforcement operation is part of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary operational campaign led by the municipality’s health department.
The widespread campaigns in eThekwini come in response to rising public health concerns over fatalities linked to contaminated food and the growing need for government to regulate informal food outlets.
To ensure full compliance with national regulations eThekwini Mayor, Cyril Xaba, is spearheading the on-site spaza shops registration blitz and workshops taking place across the City.
Tuckshop owners urged to register their businesses
As the national campaign to ensure spaza shops comply with regulations gains momentum the municipality is urging owners of these establishments to register their businesses ahead of December 13 deadline set by national government.
Also read: Spaza shops come under scrutiny in Montclair
In a statement, eThekwini Municipality said it has been inundated with enquiries from spaza shop owners eager to comply with the registration requirements.
So far the municipality has received 1 504 applications since November 18.
“All applications will be circulated to internal departments for inspections before a decision to either grant or refuse an application is made. The turn-around time of processing applications is 21 days. This process will be implemented in line with the Municipality’s Informal Trading by-laws, Retail Markets by-laws and Business License by-laws,” the municipality said in a statement.
The prescribed fee for a new business license applicable to emerging businesses (spaza shops) is R287.
Xaba cautioned the residents of eThekwini against registering spaza shops on behalf of unqualified individuals or operators as this is against the law.
Workshops are being held to inform spaza shop owners of the requirements.
Where to register a spaza shop?
Spaza shop owners can also register from December 6 to 8 at the Anderson Sports Ground during the Durban Business Fair.
Meanwhile, spaza shop and tuck shop license holders are reminded to renew their licences to maintain operational continuity.
“The annual renewal period began on December 1 and will run until January 31. While renewal is free, it is a statutory requirement,” a statement read.
Licences can be renewed at the Business Licensing Office where they originally applied, or online through the Business Licensing eServices webpage on the eThekwini Municipality website: www.durban.gov.za.
For more information, spaza shop owners can call the City’s Business Licensing Unit on 031 311 4535.
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