New Deadline For Spaza Shop Registrations Set For Later This Month
In a move to improve food safety, the government has extended the registration deadline for spaza shops and other food-handling businesses to 28 February, 2025,
This extension comes after a recent rise in food-related deaths linked to contaminated products, prompting action from authorities.
Initially, the deadline was set for Tuesday, but the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa announced the new timeline at a press briefing on Wednesday. Between 15 November and Tuesday, nearly 43 000 applications were received, with just under 20 000 approved so far.
Minister Hlabisa clarified that the decision to extend the deadline was made after discussions with President Cyril Ramaphosa, reflecting the governments commitment to ensuring that all food outlets comply with safety regulations .