CAROLINA – A total of 571 spaza shop owners in the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality have only three weeks left to get their papers in order before the registration deadline on 28 February.
Since the beginning of the registration drive on 15 November last year, following a widespread of food poisoning cases in the country, the municipality revealed that it had received 575 applications, to date. However, only four of those applications complied and received their trading permits.
Spokesperson for the municipality, Thapelo Phetla, said that the 571 applicants had outstanding documents that should be submitted before the closing date to complete the registration process.
“Failure to meet the deadline will result in the applications being null and void,” said Phetla.
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Documents that are required for the registration of the business include the owner’s (ID/Passport) proof of address, health and safety certificates, building plans, tax clearance certificate, to mention, but a few.
They are also required to keep and provide supplier records/identity to prove that goods are sourced from authorised entities.
Phetla warned that failure to meet the deadline would have dire consequences on the spaza shop owners.
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, introduced a new Standard Draft By-Law for township economies last year November.
The bylaw includes guidelines on the registration and permitting of businesses, transferability of permit, waste removal and hygiene, restricted and prohibited areas and prohibitions and restrictions such as sleeping overnight at the place of business.
The bylaw further states that failure to comply may result to a written warning on the first transgression and failure to remedy the offense would lead to the cancelation of the business license.
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“The municipality adopted a draft Township By law. Currently we are in a process of consultations with the public. Once the council approves, it will be implemented accordingly,” concluded Phetla.
