JOHANNESBURG - About 200 spaza shops in the City of Johannesburg have submitted their applications to the R500-million Spaza Shop Fund, mayor Dada Morero has confirmed.
The fund, launched last year, aims to help spaza shop owners comply with municipal by-laws.
To further support compliance, the City also recently hosted the Gauteng Spaza Shop and Informal Traders Summit and Expo, designed to encourage engagement, learning, and collaboration between authorities and shop owners.
In November 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that all spaza shops needed to be registered or risk closure.
The announcement followed a tragedy in which over 20 children died after consuming poisoned food from local spaza shops. Hundreds more children were hospitalised and treated.
Spaza shop owners were initially given a deadline of 17 December 2024 to register, later extended to 28 February 2025.
Of the 13,500 spaza shops identified and issued registration forms across the province, only 200 in Johannesburg have so far been accounted for in the fund, the mayor confirmed.
Morero explained that the registration requirements have been stringent, making compliance difficult for many owners.
Requirements include submitting building plans, obtaining city permission for any structural changes, and, in some cases, rezoning buildings to ensure they meet business standards.
Costs associated with compliance remain a significant hurdle for shop owners.
"The gaps raised at the summit were mainly about compliance," Morero said.
"Many owners asked for more support to help them meet the requirements. In response, a development planning team has been set up with the Department of Economic Development to provide guidance."
Some owners have also requested that certain requirements be waived. Morero stressed that there would be no shortcuts.
"There is no compromise when it comes to compliance," he said.
"The number of shops that are fully compliant is still very low. The process is strict, but it is necessary to maintain high standards."
There have also been requests for temporary licences, but Morero said these could discourage full compliance.