Gauteng closes 296 spazas

COUNTING: 28 FEBRUARY DEADLINE FOR SHOP LICENCE APPLICATIONS

- Oratile Mashilo

Gauteng authorities have closed 296 non-compliant spaza shops and food-handling facilities as part of the provincial government's crackdown on illegal and unsafe businesses.

During a media briefing yesterday, MEC for finance and economic development Lebogang Maile said compliance continues to be a serious challenge in all municipalities.

The closures come after a directive from President Cyril Ramaphosa in November last year that all spaza shops and food handling businesses be registered within 21 days. The deadline was later extended to 28 February this year.

This was after a devastating food safety crisis late in 2024 as more than 20 children died from food-borne illnesses allegedly linked to these shops, this led to calls for the shops to be regulated.

Since then inspections have revealed widespread non-compliance across Gauteng.