Gauteng records lowest numbers of spaza shop registrations in the country

JOHANNESBURG - Despite Gauteng being the most populated province, it has recorded one of the lowest numbers of spaza shop registrations in the country.

Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa revealed that just over 2,000 spaza shops in Gauteng applied for registration, with a little over 700 approved.

In contrast, Mpumalanga, with a population three times smaller than Gauteng received nearly 10,000 registrations.

The inter-ministerial team working on spaza shop registrations provided an update of figures in Pretoria on Wednesday.

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Gauteng was expected to have the highest number of spaza shop registrations, but surprisingly, it recorded one of the lowest figures.

Hlabisa says the most likely explanation is that spaza shop owners in the province chose not to register their businesses.

"Many of the spaza shops that are operating will not apply because they are operated by people who do not have documents to be in South Africa."

But Hlabisa says this shouldn’t be a cause for concern.

"We should not be worried or frightened by the fact that a number of them are not coming forward. It’s because the people who are running them are not the people who are supposed to run them."

Spaza shop owners now have until the 28th of February next year to register their stores – following the extension announced by the government today.

GOVT TO DETERMINE WHETHER SPAZA SHOPS SHOULD GET TRADING LICENCES

With more than 19,000 spaza shops approved for registration nationwide.

The next step is for the government to determine whether these shops should be granted trading licences.

Hlabisa clarified that applying does not mean the spaza shops are good to go.

Store owners have spent the last 21 days applying for registration, following President Cyril Ramaphosa's directive.

This initiative comes in response to a rise of foodborne illnesses, allegedly linked to products sold at spaza shops.

The first phase of the spaza shop registration process was designed to tally the number of stores across the country and capture them on the government’s database.

For those whose registration applications have been approved, a team of inspectors, along with health and safety officials, will visit the shops to verify that they are suitable for selling to the community.

Hlabisa warns that even if applications are approved, the government reserves the right to shut down any spaza shop found to be unfit for trading.

“The first process is business compliance where you need to register the spaza shops or any food-handling businesses. The second process is compliance with health regulations. This second process does not depend on whether you are registered or not. If you don’t comply with health regulations. The business is closed down immediately.”

In Gauteng alone, 541 spaza shops have been closed down for non-compliance.