In a bid to ensure all spaza shops and other food-handling outlets across South Africa are properly registered, the government has announced an extension of the registration deadline to the end of February next year.
President Cyril Ramaphosa had previously imposed a 21-day deadline for spaza shop owners to register their businesses, but thousands of small businesses remained unregistered even after the deadline had passed.
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, revealed that 42,915 applications were received during the initial registration period, with 19,386 applications already approved.
This progress has led the government to extend the deadline in order to accommodate more applications and ensure compliance with regulations.
“We regard this as considerable progress over a period of 21 days,” Hlabisa stated during a press conference in Pretoria. “In consultation with the president, the government has resolved to extend the registration deadline for all spaza shops and other food-handling outlets to February 28, 2025.”
The extension of the deadline aims to give spaza shop owners more time to complete the registration process and continue to operate their businesses legally.
This move highlights the government’s commitment to supporting small businesses and ensuring food safety standards are met in the country.
Spaza shop owners are encouraged to take advantage of this extended registration period to avoid any potential penalties or fines for operating without the necessary permits.
With 392 registration centers established nationwide, the government is dedicated to assisting businesses in meeting the registration requirements.
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