Spaza shop owners across South Africa face a Friday deadline to register their businesses, following a directive from President Cyril Ramaphosa. The 21-day compliance period was introduced after over 20 children tragically died from consuming snacks purchased from local spaza shops and vendors.
Many shop owners have appealed for the deadline to be extended to six months, citing challenges in meeting the short timeframe.
In Nelson Mandela Bay, a workshop was held yesterday to assist local shop owners with the registration process. Similar efforts are being coordinated in other regions to ensure compliance.
In Gauteng, Finance MEC Lebogang Maile is expected to provide an update on the situation in the province, considered the country's economic hub.
The move aims to enforce stricter regulations and improve oversight of food safety standards at small businesses, while also ensuring that operators are legally registered. The government has emphasized the importance of compliance to prevent further public health incidents.