'No respite for spazas'

COMPLIANCE: TSHWANE TO INTENSIFY INSPECTION EFFORTS IN NEW YEAR

- Marizka Coetzer

The city of Tshwane will intensify and accelerate its efforts to inspect noncompliant spaza shops in the new year. Tshwane MMC for economic development and spatial planning Sarah Mabotsa said the city had recorded 4 048 spaza shops as of 17 December.

Mabotsa said the city believed there were far more people who were yet to register and would now have the added opportunity to ensure they comply.

"It is important to note that the registration process forms part of a broader compliance process. Businesses will still need to comply with health and environmental requirements or their establishments will not be allowed to continue operating," she said.

Mabotsa said a breakdown of the registration applications received so far indicated 1 709 (52%) were South Africans and 1 569 (48%) were foreign nationals.

"About 770 applications are still to be collated," she added.

Mabotsa said the city would continue to accelerate spaza shop by-law inspections amid the extension of the registration deadline.

The initial registration deadline was moved from 17 December to 28 February.