By Staff Reporter
The owners of spaza shops, small businesses and other food handling convenient stores have until 5pm on Tuesday to register their businesses at their local municipalities.
Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s issued a directive that they must all register within 21 days. Those that do not register by deadline, must shut down or face closure by local authorities.
While there were reports of businesses asking for an extension, the government has been sticking to its guns on the deadline.
The registration forms part of efforts by the government to get a handle on the food contamination crisis, which has left dozens of children dead and hundreds hospitalised across the country. Gauteng has been the hardest-hit province.
Last week, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) said that businesses missing the registration window must cease operations and shut down immediately.
It also warned that the registration that was being undertaken did not include the entire process of licensing a business, which involved an application, review, approval and issuing a licence or permit to trade.
Explaining the process, it said applicants would receive an acknowledgement of receipt of their application, which would be followed by a process of verification and inspection by relevant units to including environmental health and the National Consumer Commission.
After registration, another process of obtaining a licence or permit to trade would take place as per municipal by-laws and other compliance requirements.
Businesses that have registered before would not be affected and another chance would be given to those who missed it.
“To support and expedite the process, a national online registration platform has now been developed through the Department of Small Business Development and will be deployed by January 2025. This means that all businesses that missed the deadline may still register online in their respective municipalities,” NatJoints confirmed.
Additionally, it said that the department would support all municipalities that did not have an online system.
It has reminded foreign nationals that they could only register or apply if they have a business visa or an asylum seeker certificate. A work, study or tourist visa could not be used.
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