Spaza Shop Registration Chaos in Gauteng as Deadline Looms

The Gauteng Department of Economic Development has acknowledged delays and confusion in the registration process for spaza shops across the province, blaming municipal capacity constraints for the slow progress.

According to department spokesperson Sabelo Ndlangisa, most municipalities lack the resources to efficiently process applications.

“Many municipalities do not have sufficient capacity to register and process documents,” Ndlangisa said.

With the registration deadline set for Friday, spaza shop owners have grown increasingly frustrated. Out of the 17,290 applications submitted, only 1,464 have been approved. The department attributes the delays to bureaucratic hurdles, costly registration fees, and outdated manual systems.

“The process is slow because multiple stakeholders are involved. Additionally, some townships remain unproclaimed, and many municipalities still rely on manual registration,” Ndlangisa explained.

Some municipalities have refused to process applications for businesses with outstanding municipal bills, further complicating the situation.

Also Read: South Africa Launches R500 Million Fund to Boost Spaza Shops and Ensure Food Safety Compliance

Spaza shop owners have also reported difficulties in obtaining required documents, such as title deeds, from their landlords. Some landlords fear their property documents may be misused for fraudulent sales.

The high cost of registration remains another significant hurdle. Business owners must pay R1,034 for registration, R400 for a zoning certificate, and R950 for a health certificate—fees many say they cannot afford.

“I have submitted all the necessary documents, but I still need to pay R400 for a zoning certificate and R950 for a health certificate. I don’t know where I’ll get that money because I barely make that amount in profit each month,” said Khosi Nkosi, a spaza shop owner from Katlehong.

At registration offices in Jabulani Civic Centre and Katlehong, business owners expressed frustration over the complex process, with some being turned away due to minor errors in their paperwork.

Despite the difficulties, authorities insist the rules will be enforced. “If your landlord won’t provide the title deed, bring them to the municipality. Our job is to shut down shops that fail to submit the required documents,” an official at a registration office reportedly told business owners.

In Ekurhuleni, where only 47 out of 2,668 applications have been approved, the municipality and the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) have made it clear that non-compliant spaza shops will be shut down from March 1.

“No excuses will be accepted. Any shop without a valid trading permit will be closed,” EMPD spokesperson Thabiso Makgato stated.

The city’s MMC for Developmental Planning and Real Estate, Nomadlozi Nkosi, emphasized that compliance was non-negotiable. “Even those with pending applications will be closed down because you cannot run a spaza shop without approval,” Nkosi said.

The registration deadline was initially set for December but was extended to February 28 due to compliance concerns. Authorities have ramped up enforcement following recent foodborne illness outbreaks linked to spaza shops.

With the registration deadline now here, many small business owners face the risk of closure. Bongani Mabuza, spokesperson for African Accent Spaza Shop, criticized the government for failing to educate business owners on complex requirements such as tax clearance, planning, and zoning.

“These are informal businesses. The owners do not understand these procedures,” Mabuza said.

He warned that mass shop closures could have dire economic consequences. “If the majority of spaza shops are shut down, the government must be prepared to deal with the resulting unemployment and poverty.”

Meanwhile, authorities remain firm. According to Mava Scott from the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints), spaza shops and other food outlets that fail to comply with health regulations will be shut down.

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