Spaza Shop Deadline Only Applies To Existing Businesses

The Township Economic Commission says the registration deadline will not affect people intending to open new food outlets including tuck or spaza shops. Today is the deadline for the registration of spaza shop businesses.

President Cyril Ramaphosa had ordered the registration of the businesses in November last year in response to issues of food safety.

This followed cases related to food poisoning in which at least 20 children died.

The Commissions President, Bheki Twala says the deadline only applies to owners of existing shops.

It simply means as well, if you want to start a spaza shop, lets say from Monday, you can then start that process, you finish the process, then you open. In other words, you wont open this spaza shop before you then complete the process if its a new spaza shop. The whole registration is for those that are operating currently without permits, without the trade permit, without having the COA, the Certificate Of Acceptability - without also having the documents that are needed in terms of food handling - to make sure that our consumers are protected.