The eThekwini Municipality has intensified efforts to enforce spaza shop registration.
This comes as the deadline for registration ended on February 28.
While the official period for voluntary compliance has ended, the City is urging business owners who have not yet registered to do so immediately to avoid being subjected to enforcement measures.
The City said it had received a steady stream of applications. By the deadline date a total of 6,110 applications were submitted, with approximately 1,562 licenses approved and issued to date.
However, it said many businesses are still unregistered.
Mayor Cyril Xaba stressed that registration is not optional, despite the deadline passing.
“Although the national registration initiative has officially closed, registration remains open and is mandatory. The campaign, which ran from November last year to 28 February, was launched to address food safety and formalise informal businesses to ensure compliance,” said Xaba.
To assist business owners, the municipality is providing ongoing registration services at five Regional Business Licensing Offices. Additionally, monthly compliance and empowerment workshops are being held in various wards, where onsite registration and relevant information are provided.
“We are committed to helping business owners meet regulatory requirements,” Xaba said.
The City said it will be ramping up enforcement in collaboration with the Metro Police and other stakeholders and will be taking stricter action against non-compliant businesses.
According to Xaba, those who fail to register can expect penalties.
“Non-compliant businesses can expect fines, warnings, and, in extreme cases, forced closures.
Since September last year, around 395 warnings and fines have been issued,” he stated.
The municipality said those spaza shop owners who missed the deadline or have not received feedback on their applications can visit their nearest Regional Business Licensing Office for assistance.
They can also contact the licensing office at 031 311 4535 or email [email protected]
For in-person registration, business owners can visit the following Regional Business Licensing Offices:
•Embassy Building, Durban CBD (7th Floor, 199 Anton Lembede Street) – 031 311 4535
•Sizakala Centre, Winklespruit (9 Mayors Mews, Winklespruit) – 031 311 5870
•Sizakala Centre, Pinetown (Pinetown Civic Centre, 60 Kings Road) – 031 311 6209
•Sizakala Centre, Verulam (Ground Floor, 151 Wick Street, Verulam) – 031 322 1803
•Sizakala Centre, Ntuzuma (Midway Crossing Mall, 5 Ntuzuma Main Road) – 031 311 4387