60% of Spaza shop applications are from foreigners: Says Government as Operation Dudula declares war… deadline is NOT tomorrow!

As the deadline for spaza shop registration draws near, Gauteng's finance and economic development MEC, Lebogang Maile, has reported a significant trend in applications.

With only a few days left, 4,521 individuals have submitted their registration forms, of which 2,605—nearly 60%—are foreign nationals. This statistic has sparked renewed debate over the role of foreign traders in the province's economy.

Maile disclosed that 3,616 people collected application forms, indicating a robust interest in complying with the government's directive. However, he noted that 1,916 submissions were incomplete, lacking essential supporting documents. While the MEC refrained from revealing the exact number of local submissions, he emphasised, “I think there are more than 2,000 or so foreign nationals and all that. Remember, those are registrations; the applications have not yet been accepted."

The urgency of this registration process stems from a tragic series of food-borne illnesses that have claimed the lives of over 20 children, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to mandate the registration of all food handling facilities, including spaza shops, within 21 days.

The government aims to improve consumer safety and address regulatory gaps in the township business landscape. "It must be understood that these 21 days were about submitting applications. Then [a period] to process those applications [follows]," Maile explained.

As of December 10, the Gauteng provincial government has reported that 16,616 spaza shops have been issued registration forms, with only 541 found to be non-compliant. These closures were primarily due to the absence of certificates of acceptability or businesses operating from unsafe premises.

The stakes are high for those involved. Maile warned that failure to comply with the registration timeline could result in the closure of establishments operating without the necessary authorisation.

“We are dependent on the president whether there’ll be an extension or not. So, we’re not in a position to make that call,” he noted.

Operation Dudula, a movement advocating for local ownership, has been vocal in its opposition to the perceived dominance of foreign nationals in the spaza shop sector. The organisation has pledged to closely monitor the verification processes following the application submissions. Zandile Dabula, the movement's leader, stated, "We are hoping that after the 21 days… we will still continue communicating with them because we want to be included in all the processes, verification and all that just to ensure transparency."

The City of Johannesburg has established 25 registration points to facilitate the process, making it clear that the deadline for registration is Tuesday, 17 December—not the widely believed date of Friday, 13 December. Nthatisi Modingoane, a spokesperson for the city, reiterated, “The city is committed to ensuring that all spaza shop owners have the opportunity to register and contribute to the local economy.”

The government has emphasised that the counting of the 21-day deadline commenced on 18 November, taking into account municipal office closures on weekends and public holidays. The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) confirmed that businesses failing to register within this window would face closure.

In response to the alarming incidents linked to food safety, including cases in Naledi, Soweto, President Ramaphosa's directive included immediate closures of spaza shops implicated in these tragedies. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases identified a harmful pesticide, Terbufos, as a factor in the deaths of six children, leading to intensified scrutiny of food handling practices.

As the registration deadline approaches, Maile expressed optimism about receiving more applications. “We’re confident we will get a decent number because, as you can see, we’ve already reached out to about 15,000 spaza shops, and more than 13,000 of them have received forms,” he said.

The registration of spaza shops is not merely a bureaucratic exercise; it represents a critical effort to safeguard public health and bolster local economies. However, the overwhelming number of foreign applications has raised questions about the balance of ownership in this sector. With 2,605 applications from non-South Africans, the implications for local traders and the broader economic landscape are significant.

The legitimacy of the supporting documents submitted by spaza shop owners will undergo careful scrutiny following the application phase. The city has been urged to maintain transparency throughout this process, as the community watches closely.

As the deadline looms, the situation remains fluid. Spaza shop owners are urged to finalise their applications, while the tension between foreign and local traders continues to simmer beneath the surface.