Stellenbosch Municipality is currently drafting by-laws regulating the process of licensing for spaza shops. This was according to Stuart Grobbelaar, communications manager at Stellenbosch Municipality.
“Of the 248 registered spaza shops, none are automatically licensed,” said Grobbelaar, with reference to spaza shops registered within the municipal area.
Spaza shop owners in Stellenbosch are encouraged to apply for license renewals in compliance with Stellenbosch Municipality, according to Stuart Grobbelaar, the communications manager for the municipality. PHOTO: Christopher Naidoo
On 15 November 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that spaza shops and food businesses had to re-register their businesses within their respective municipalities, according to a Mayoral Committee meeting document released on 19 February. The document states that this was in response to serious food-borne illnesses that occurred nationally.
The president initially gave businesses 21 days to register, but Velenkosini Hlabisa, minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, extended this deadline to 28 February, according to the Mayoral Committee meeting document.
Grobbelaar said that the majority of spaza shops in Stellenbosch were able to register, and that the municipality is awaiting further directives from the national government regarding spaza shops that aren’t legally registered after this deadline.
“The municipality has been very helpful and understanding regarding the renewals. We are grateful for that,” said a young employee at a local spaza shop, who requested anonymity.
Stellenbosch Municipality is in the process of drafting a by-law to assist in the regulation of licensing local spaza shops, confirmed Stuart Grobbelaar, the municipality’s communications manager. PHOTO: Christopher Naidoo
“Seeing as this is a very big national issue that’s being driven by national government, the municipality took the initiative to draft its own by-law to further assist the needs of the national government, whilst also helping our informal economy and local spaza shops,” said Grobbelaar.
The spaza shop by-law will enable the municipality to provide municipal services to registered spaza shops, such as access to cleaning and refuse removal, including other needs such as obtaining of licenses, according to Grobbelaar.
“The national government wants municipalities to have better knowledge over operating spaza shops,” said Stuart Grobbelaar (above), communications manager at Stellenbosch Municipality. PHOTO: Supplied/Stuart Grobbelaar
“While we do our best to support the informal economy, it is also the responsibility of the municipality to prioritise compliance,” said Grobbelaar.
The Building Development Management division within Stellenbosch Municipality ensures compliance with the health and safety regulations of the town. If buildings that house spaza shops fail to meet safety standards, not all applications will be approved, according to Grobbelaar.
“Last week, a lady from the health and safety department visited our shop for inspection,” said a manager at a spaza shop, who requested anonymity. “She told us to repair the gaps between the tiles in our shop. We knew that we had to repair those tiles immediately to avoid any issues with compliance from the municipality.”