South Africa
Mangaung urges informal traders to register businesses─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 10:26 Wed, 27 Nov 2024
Mangaung Metro has intensified efforts to regulate informal trading by urging spaza shop owners to register their businesses.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Local Economic Development Directorate, aims to enhance compliance with health and safety standards and address growing concerns about foodborne illnesses linked to non-compliant shops.
The registration drive, launched at the Kagisanong hall on Monday (25/11) with a second session at the Paradise hall on Tuesday, aligns with Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for improved regulation of informal businesses said municipal spokesperson Qondile Khedama.
‘Registering these businesses is critical’
Nationwide incidents of food poisoning, particularly affecting children, recently sparked calls for stricter enforcement of health regulations.
“The registration process will enable the city to enforce bylaws and regulate spaza shops,” said Khedama.
At Paradise Hall, Local Economic Development MMC Theodorah Mosala emphasised the importance of formalising informal businesses operating in the metro’s jurisdiction.
“Registering these businesses is critical to ensure they have the proper documentation to operate. It also helps us address noncompliance, particularly when it comes to health and safety standards.”
Recently, learners across the Free State and other provinces fell ill after consuming contaminated food products from spaza shops, often operated by undocumented foreign nationals.
Ramaphosa called for the closure of non-compliant foreign-owned spaza shops, emphasising the need to protect consumers from unsafe goods.
Between February and early November, police conducted 20,985 inspections of spaza shops across the province, Provincial Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Baile Motswenyane disclosed.
A total of 95 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested, 35 fines were issued for selling counterfeit goods, and 295 for expired food products.
Free State Finance, Tourism, and Economic Development MEC, Ketso Makume, at provincial legislature, sitting. Photo: Screengrab.
The registration process will continue at the Grassland Hall in Bloemfontein on Wednesday and in Botshabelo at the Samson Sefuthi Hall on Thursday and the Nicro Hall on Friday.
Khedama urged informal traders to participate in the process, highlighting that the registration benefits both the municipality and business owners.
During the legislature sitting on Tuesday (26/11) Free State Finance, Tourism and Economic Development MEC, Ketso Makume said the government together with law enforcement agencies will continue to monitor spaza shops and those that are not compliant and without proper papers will be closed immediately.
