Hundreds of spaza shop owners scramble to meet registration deadline
This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa's directive last month that spaza shops be registered on the government’s database.
The families of five children who died on Sunday after allegedly consuming chips from a local spaza shop in Naledi, Soweto, are looking for closure.
JOHANNESBURG - Queues are heavily backed up in Jabulani, Soweto, where hundreds of spaza shop owners scramble to meet the registration deadline.
Shop owners have until close of business on Tuesday to complete their registrations.
This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa's directive last month that spaza shops be registered on the government’s database.
The move aims to regulate the industry in response to a rise in foodborne illnesses which resulted in the deaths of over 20 children.
Long queues continue to wind around the Jabulani Civic Centre in Soweto, as hundreds of people wait to register their spaza shops.
Officials have separated the queues, with elderly spaza shop owners in one line and younger individuals in another.
One spaza shop owner however insists they are not to blame for registering at the last minute, saying they were turned away last week due to water issues in the township.
" I don’t understand how water issues affect the registration process. They told us in the morning last week that there’s no water and we should come back today."
Despite Tuesday being the final day, some spaza shop owners are still being turned away due to outstanding documents.
[WATCH] As today marks the final day for Spaza Shop registrations, queues are heavily backed in Jabulani Soweto with many waiting in line to enlist their businesses.
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) December 17, 2024
Spaza shop owners have until 17h00 to register their businesses. @JusstAlpha pic.twitter.com/9cgDwVcXK9