South Africa has reaffirmed that the registration deadline for spazas and kiosks will not be extended beyond Friday, according to Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa. The registration drive was launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa last November following a spate of food poisoning incidents that claimed the lives of dozens of children.
Township Economic Commission Chair Bheki Twala explained that the deadline only applies to existing businesses operating without the necessary permits, including trading licences and Certificates of Admissibility. Authorities warned that unregistered shops would be shut down by law enforcement.
South Africa’s Government Eyes Large Supermarkets for Compliance
Meanwhile, Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development Lebogang Maile called for a broader focus on food safety, stressing that large supermarkets must also be held accountable. The inspections revealed expired products, unsanitary conditions and inappropriate labelling in some stores.
Maile expressed his dissatisfaction, stressing that supermarkets need to improve conditions before follow-up inspections. While these stores will remain open for now, authorities promised to continue their inspections to maintain food safety standards in the retail sector.