PRETORIA- The South African government has extended the deadline for spaza shop registration to February 28, 2025, a move welcomed by Ethiopian business owners who cited challenges with documentation and compliance. The extension comes after only 19,386 of 42,915 applications were approved during the initial 21-day registration period.
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa announced the two-month extension on Wednesday in Pretoria, acknowledging the need for more time to process applications.
“We are very grateful for this extension because there have been lots of complaints,” said Fikreyesus Daniel, director of the ANG ANGGA Association representing Ethiopian business owners. “When the time is so short, you want to do things properly.”
The registration drive was initiated following several deaths across South Africa linked to food-borne illnesses, with children being the primary victims. The incidents were allegedly connected to products sold in township spaza shops.
Daniel emphasized that Ethiopian business owners take the food safety concerns seriously but face significant delays in obtaining necessary documentation from the Department of Home Affairs, including asylum-seeker permits required for registration.
The government established 392 registration centers across nine provinces to process applications from spaza shops and other food-handling outlets. The registration period began on November 15.
“Out of the 42,915 applications, 19,386 have been approved. We regard this as considerable progress over a period of 21 days,” Hlabisa said during the announcement.
Registered businesses must still complete the process of obtaining trading licenses. Hlabisa confirmed that all levels of government will continue implementing the action plan to address food-borne illnesses and illicit trade concerns until the new deadline.
The extension provides relief to thousands of unregistered spaza shop owners who were unable to meet the original 21-day deadline announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
