Over 500 Gauteng spaza shops closed down due to non-compliance, says Maile
He has further threatened that they will not be opened until they fully comply.
City of Johannesburg multi-disciplinary inspection team raided a Dobsonville spaza shop on 22 November 2024 and shut it down for for running a business in a residential area, selling expired products, and using expired asylum papers. Picture: @CityofJoburgZA/X
JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Finance MEC Lebogang Maile says over 500 spaza shops have been closed due to non-compliance in the province.
He has further threatened that they will not be opened until they fully comply.
Maile revealed the statistics during a media briefing in Johannesburg on the progress of spaza shop registrations on Thursday, after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s November directive.
Maile says the provincial government is strengthening the rule of law to tackle non-compliant spaza shops.
"The intensification of law enforcement across all municipalities remains a priority. This is to ensure that only compliant spaza shops are allowed to operate.
"Currently, 541 spaza shops have been closed for non-compliance. These establishments will not be opened or allowed to operate until such time they meet all compliance requirements."
Maile says the provincial government aims to increase the capacity of inspectors for continuous inspections, which will continue throughout the festive season.