Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa announced a 21-workday registration period on Friday, 15 November to register.

“The process of registration … does not include the whole process of licensing of a business, which is the application, review, approval and the issuance of the license or a permit to trade,” said spokesperson and head of communications at Coghsta in the Northern Cape, Tebogo Monyo.

Northern Cape COGHSTA, Transport, Safety and Liaison MEC Bentley Vass has called on municipalities to speed up all related processes after businesses submit applications.

“If one has missed the registration window, it is important to note that the business cannot operate and must be closed down. Following the current registration process, applicants are expected to receive an acknowledgement of their application,” said Vass.

“This will then be followed by a process of verification and inspection, as well as other statutory compliance requirements by relevant units such as Environmental Health, National Consumer Commission, etc.’’

Emphasis has been put on the fact that foreign nationals can only register or apply for a business license if they possess a business visa, an asylum seeker certificate, or a refugee certificate.

'Will face the might of the law'

Foreign nationals with work, study or tourist visas are not permitted to apply for a business license or operate a business in the country.

“South Africans, who are landlords, are also prohibited by law to register businesses on behalf of illegal foreign nationals. Any South African who has been found to have fraudulently registered a business on behalf of an illegal foreign national will face the might of the law,” added Monyo.

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony cg