Emalahleni Local Municipality has announced the new measures for registrations of tuck shops across the three regions.

The municipality announced that it will embark on a wide spaza/tuck shop registration outreach programme to ensure compliance with trading by-laws in municipal health services, fire safety, and town planning to protect communities.

This programme kicked off on Friday, November 22.

The new measures came shortly after the Executive Mayor, Clr Vusi Nhlapo halted the registrations due to concerns raised by residents and local tuck shop owners.

Nhlapho’s decision to halt registration was influenced by the aggrieved local tuck shop owners, who were adamant that foreign spaza shops must immediately be closed before registration commences.

Residents filled the banquet hall to the brim, cried, and voiced that it cannot be business as usual while their children are allegedly dying at the hands of foreign-owned spaza shops.

It was clear that residents perceived the registration as a lack of consideration by the government.

As a result, Nhlapho said the municipality will not commence with the registration of tuck shops within the 21-day marked period.

Before this, the municipality had invited small food retailers, more especially spaza shop owners, to express their concerns and to seek clarity regarding the registrations of shops.

The meeting was scheduled for 10:00 on Wednesday, November 20 at the banquet hall.

Nhlapo, municipal speaker Mduduzi Mswati ka Nkosi, MMC for Environmental Waste Management, Nombuso Mokwana, and the municipal manager Sizwe Mayisela were present.

The scheduled meeting only commenced an hour later at around 11:00.

During the opening session, the municipal speaker confessed that they were in a meeting before being notified of the crowds of shop owners outside the banquet hall, with some residents allegedly turning away foreign spaza shop owners wanting to register their businesses.

The mayor clarified that the reason for not going ahead with registrations was for consultation purposes. He also warned residents to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

“That will bring more harm than good; we should always be aware of chance-takers who will use the opportunity to loot and commit crimes. The raids will be properly planned and approved,” Nhlapho emphasised.

Registrations resumed on Monday, November 25, at various municipal offices in Ga-Nala, Ogies, and eMalahleni. Important documents are required such as original copies of ID, tax compliance certificates, title deeds, and letters of permission by the municipality.

“Further to the registration process, the ELM will license all qualifying spaza/tuck shops or food-handling businesses and issue them with licenses or permits. Consequences for non-compliance include, among others, the confiscation of goods, issuing of fines in terms of the Business Trading Control by-law and Street Trading by-law, and closure of businesses. This initiative is in line with the directive issued by President Cyril Ramaphosa on November 15,” the statement ended.

What is your opinion about this story?

Please send us an email to info@witbanknews.co.za or phone us on 013 656 2490

• For more breaking and community news, visit Witbank News’
• For more news and articles, like WITBANK NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, Instagramor TikTok

DID YOU KNOW?

Click on the words highlighted to read more on this and related topics