Spaza shop D-day looming, only 150 registered

Update

GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - Blitz operations continued this week with more spaza shops closed in George. Spaza shop owners have until Friday 13 December to register their businesses or risk closure.

According to Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe, senior communications officer at George Municipality, 150 spaza shops have applied for business licensing.

They could not confirm how many spaza shops there are in the area.

"We are still busy consolidating the total number of spaza shops in George," Mangqwengqwe said.

The registration drive is part of measures to address the recurring foodborne illnesses that have claimed the lives of at least 22 people, mostly children, across the country.

Liban Ali, business owner and chairperson of the Southern Cape Foreign Business Association, says they are happy to comply with the registration process, but don't think 21 days are enough for everyone to register.

"We have more than 1 000 spaza shops in George and only a couple of hundred have registered so far. We don't mind registering and are happy to comply, but I think the government should give us some extension so that everyone can register," he said.

Click here for a list of Requirements for registration.pdf

Banned pesticides

In the meantime, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) has released a list of illegal and dangerous banned products. Should you come across these products, please contact the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development immediately.

They have the power to confiscate these items from any shop. To report businesses that stock these products, contact John Wynand at 044 203 0303 or email Johnwy@dalrrd.gov.za.

Workshop for informal traders

On Monday, the Garden Route District Municipality, George Municipality, the Department of Agriculture, and the police hosted a workshop in Thembalethu for about 200 informal food traders. Presentations emphasised food safety, proper storage of hazardous materials, and removing unsafe items such as damaged cans and unlabelled products from shelves.

Who has to register for a business licence?

Businesses involved in selling meals or perishable foodstuffs, operating health establishments, providing entertainment, or hawking food in public or movable setups, must apply for a business licence.

How to apply

An application form must be completed, which can be obtained at the municipality's department for environmental services at 82 Meade Street and the municipal offices in Uniondale. The application fee is R74,20. The hawkers' licence fee is R30,36.

The following documents must be submitted with the application:

Fully completed and signed application form and proof of payment
Copy of certified ID or passport
Copy of certified certificate of acceptability
Copy of municipal account where business is operated
Site plan indicating where the premises are located and details of the type of structure/building from which business is conducted
Proof of ownership or permission to utilise business premises
Business registration with the CIPC
The processing of the application will take up to 30 working days before an outcome will be available. The municipality may refuse the application.

Any incidents of suspected counterfeit or tampered foodstuffs can be reported to the police or Johan Compion, the senior manager of municipal health, solid waste management and air quality control.

E-mail: jcompion@gardenroute.gov.za or phone 044 803 1550 / 082 803 5161.

WATCH: Liban Ali encourages spaza shop owners to register.