Durban: The eThekwini Municipality has said 4600 spaza shop owners have registered their businesses.

The government extended the deadline for businesses to register to February 28. In December last year the Minster of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa announced the extension of the deadline for all spaza shops and other food handling facilities to be registered.

President Cyril Ramaphosa had directed that these businesses had to be registered with the municipalities in which they operate after the deaths of children due to food-borne illnesses, which were linked to food purchased at spaza shops.

The municipality said that since registration began in November last year, 250 of the registered businesses had completed all steps, including the mandatory 21-day waiting period and had since collected their official business licences.

The municipality explained that this process included submitting all required departmental documents, passing inspections by Environmental Health Practitioners and Safety and Fire Officers, and meeting other compliance checks.

For foreign nationals who wanted to register a business, the City said proof of a valid work permit had to be verified with the Department of Home Affairs.

eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba said the City was pleased that businesses were coming forward to be registered.

“This shows that spaza shop owners are committed to partnering with eThekwini Municipality to promote safer communities. We urge all spaza shop owners to continue registering, as it will help improve compliance standards, reduce health and safety risks, and unlock potential development opportunities,” said Xaba.

The municipality will be holding information sharing workshops in February in multiple wards. In the workshops, information will be provided on the business licensing and there will be on-site registration assistance.

The upcoming workshops will take place as follows:

• 4 February: Ntuzuma A Hall, Ward 38

• 5 February: Burlington Sports Ground, Ward 65

• 12 February: Soul Harvest Church (PS Nogoni), White Tent, Opposite Checksave at the Westrich Taxi Rank, Ward 36

• 19 February: Belvedere Hall, Ward 61

• 26 February: Magabheni Community Hall, Ward 99

Xaba said non-compliance by business owners would not be tolerated.

“In the last quarter of 2024, we issued 457 notices to businesses that failed to comply. These businesses now face the risk of prosecution and possible shutdown by law enforcement, including the South African Police Services and the Metro Police. In extreme cases, businesses found to pose an immediate danger to public health are closed by the Environmental Health Unit,” he said.

The municipality said it would also be publishing the names of legally registered spaza shops to its website, to increase transparency and accountability within the sector.

THE MERCURY