The final day for owners of spaza shops and food-handling stores to register their business has arrived. Shop owners are pleading for an extension, while the government says it has received reports of criminals targeting them.

A spokesperson for the Government Communication and Information Systems, Mava Scott, says these stores will face closure if they have not begun the registration process by Tuesday, 17 December – the cut-off date for this.

Scott has, however, noted that the current process (to be completed by the deadline) does not include the entire procedure.

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“The process of registration that is being undertaken does not include the whole process of licensing of a business, which is the application, review, approval and the issuance of the license or a permit to trade. Following the current process of registration applicants are expected to receive an acknowledgement of receipt of their application. This will then be followed by a process of verification and inspection.”

Business owners, though, feel that the 21-day directive by President Cyril Ramaphosa was too narrow a timeframe to complete the necessary processes. They are pleading for a one-year extension to the registration period.

But Scott stressed that failure to register will result in non-compliant businesses being shut down.

Meanwhile, to address future needs, Scott says a national online registration platform is set to launch in January 2025, offering a solution for those who miss Tuesday’s deadline.

The government’s enforcement efforts have intensified, with multidisciplinary teams conducting door-to-door compliance checks and targeting non-compliant businesses. Operations at ports of entry have also been bolstered to prevent unsafe goods from entering the country.

Unauthorised inspections and criminal activity

Scott has further raised concern over reports of criminal groups exploiting this situation. These groups are allegedly conducting unauthorised inspections and demanding fees under false pretences. They claim to be working with the government to address the foodborne illnesses outbreak.

As such, provincial governments and metropole municipalities have been advised to be vigilant of such criminal groups.

“It is important to emphasise that no formal working relationship exists between the government and any associations conducting unauthorised inspections.”

Business owners and shoppers are encouraged to report unauthorised inspections to the government hotline, at 012 065 1490.