Backlash As South Africans Help Foreigners Register Spaza Shops

Operation Dudula has expressed disappointment over some South Africans assisting foreign nationals in registering their spaza shops under their identities.

This reaction follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s mandate that spaza shop owners must register their businesses within 21 days to avoid closure.

President Ramaphosa’s Announcement On Spaza Shops

President Ramaphosa’s announcement comes in response to a recent spate of food poisoning incidents that have claimed the lives of over 20 children. Addressing the nation, he outlined several measures to ensure the safety and compliance of spaza shops:

Registration Requirement: All spaza shops and food-handling facilities must register with their respective municipalities within 21 days. Any shop that fails to register within this period and does not meet health standards will be closed.

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Immediate Closure of Non-Compliant Shops: Spaza shops implicated in the deaths of children or found to be non-compliant with health regulations will be shut down immediately.

Removal of Hazardous Pesticides: Authorities will eliminate dangerous chemicals from circulation to prevent further food-borne illnesses.

Protecting Children: Increased efforts will be made to shield children from exposure to harmful substances.

Preventing Future Outbreaks: The government will enforce stricter food safety measures and conduct compliance checks on food handling facilities, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers.

[WATCH]: Tensions are flaring up amongst residents in Soweto, as some have come to the Customer Service Centre in Jabulani to register spaza shops on behalf of the foreign nationals who are renting at their homes.

A picket is being held outside the centre to prevent foreign… pic.twitter.com/LI9onJjZU9

— Kaya News (@KayaNews) November 19, 2024

Operation Dudula’s Reaction

Operation Dudula President Zandile Dabula voiced her frustration during a picket outside Jabulani Civic Centre in Soweto. “I’m really disappointed. When I got here, there were some South Africans that have been chased away because they are assisting foreign nationals to come and get permits here. They are doing it under their own identity.

“I mean South Africans; we keep fighting this for you guys but you keep turning us down. I’m pleading with South Africans to stop. If we find that you have registered their business under your name, we are going to make sure that law enforcement deals with you harshly.”

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The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences, and Creative Industries, Makhi Feni, welcomed the President’s directive, emphasising the need for enforcement of the law to prevent further tragedies.

Municipalities, starting with Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, are conducting door-to-door inspection campaigns targeting spaza shops and informal traders to ensure compliance.

By enforcing these measures, the government aims to ensure food safety and protect vulnerable communities from future tragedies.

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