The eThekwini Municipality has arrested five undocumented foreign nationals and issued fines and warnings to several shop owners during a multi-agency crackdown on illegal spaza shops in Umlazi, south of Durban.
Municipal authorities conducted inspections at 34 spaza shops across different sections of Umlazi during a three-day operation aimed at enforcing business licence compliance, municipal by-laws and food safety standards.
The operation involved the Durban Metro Police, the South African Police Service, the City’s Business Licensing Division and the Supply Side and Area-Based Operations Directorate.
According to the municipality, most of the tuck shops inspected were operating without valid licences, selling expired food items and illegally connected to the electricity grid.
On the first day of the operation, 9 March, officials inspected 14 tuck shops in the K and H sections of Umlazi. Authorities found that none of the businesses had valid licences. One fine and one summons were issued for unhygienic conditions, while several warnings were also issued.
The operation continued on 10 March in the Q and U sections, where 12 tuck shops were inspected. Again, none of the businesses were found to have valid licences. Officials issued warnings, and environmental health practitioners are expected to conduct follow-up inspections to ensure corrective action is taken.
On the final day, 11 March, officials inspected eight tuck shops in the T and B sections. Only one shop had a pending licence application, while the remaining seven were operating without licences. Two fines and summonses were issued for unsanitary conditions and the sale of expired food products. Authorities also confiscated the expired goods to prevent them from being sold to the public.
The municipality said the findings raised serious compliance and public health concerns.
Officials warned that the operation forms part of a broader enforcement campaign that will be expanded across the metro.
The City urged business owners to register or renew their licences at municipal Business Licensing Offices, reminding traders that operating without a valid licence is an offence under the Business Licensing Act 71 of 1991.