By OBAKENG MAJE
18 December 2024- As many spaza shop owners grappled with registration, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa announced the extension of the deadline for registration of spaza shops and other food handling outlets.
Hlabisa provided an update regarding the government’s work in implementing the action plan to address the challenges arising from food-borne illnesses.
“In the address to the nation on 15 November 2024, following the deaths of children due to food-borne illnesses, amongst measures adopted by the government, President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined a key compliance intervention on the regulation of spaza shops.
“Ramaphosa directed that all spaza shops and other food handling facilities must be registered within the municipalities in which they operate within 21 days from the date of his address and that any shop that is not registered within 21 days and does not meet all health standards and requirements is closed,” he said.
Hlabisa further said the 21-day period directed by Ramaphosa for registering all spaza shops and other food handling outlets ended yesterday. He added that the government still needs to do more work to ensure that the sector is properly regulated and adheres to health regulations.
“The government understands the concerns raised by some stakeholders regarding the registration deadline for spaza shops. However, it must be noted that the initial deadline was set to address the urgent need to ensure compliance with health and safety standards following the tragic incidents of food-borne illnesses.
“Registration ensures that all spaza shops meet minimum standards, regardless of their past operations. In considering whether or not to extend the registration deadline, the government considers its commitment to supporting small businesses, prioritising health and safety, ensuring inclusivity and fairness, and maintaining its integrity,” said Hlabisa.
He said the municipal processes of adopting and adapting the by-laws as gazetted him on 7 November 2024, are highly regulated and need a lot of consultation to complete. Hlabisa said nevertheless, a lot of work was done over the 21 days of registration period.
“In consultation with the President, therefore, the government has resolved to extend the registration deadline for all spaza shops and other food-handling outlets to 28 February 2025.
“Prior to the revised deadline of 28 February 2025, the government in all its spheres will continue to implement the action plan to address the crisis of foodborne illnesses and the illicit trade of goods across the country. Those who have registered their businesses and have duly received their acknowledgement of registration still need to undertake a further process to obtain their trading licenses,” he said.
Hlabisa said for this process, Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) and other regulatory authorities will still inspect owners of registered food-related trading businesses to ensure that their businesses are eligible to trade.
He said notwithstanding the holiday scaling down of operations, municipalities must still reserve capacity to assist those who will be registering.
“We also urge business owners to continue with their registration process within their respective municipalities and not wait until the next registration deadline,” said Hlabisa.
The Guardian 