Spaza shops: Don't take law into your own hands

THE process to set up a joint fund to support kasi and rural businesses, including community convenience shops, has already begun.

This is according to Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Thembi Simelani, during a media briefing in Tshwane on Thursday, 21 November.

Simelani is one of the ministers leading multi-disciplinary teams in government responsible for the national response to instances of foodborne illnesses.

She outlined government's action plan to manage foodborne illnesses, which continue to claim kids' lives.

One of the interventions is the funding announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa to help spaza shops adhere to trading guidelines.

Simelani said the department is responsible for the joint fund and working on the guidelines and standard operating procedures on use and accountability of the fund which will be completed in the next two weeks.

"In the short term, approved rural and township businesses will be supported through the fund to improve infrastructure, regulatory compliance and capacity building," Simelane said.

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"The operational fund application and disbursement process will commence as soon as the registration process is completed and will be subjected to ongoing auditing processes as an early warning system against potential anomalies and fraudulent activities."

She said qualifying criteria is also specific that the business owner must be a South African citizen operating within the country's borders and serving local communities.

Simelani also said the business must be registered with the local municipality in accordance with relevant by-laws and have valid registration with SARS.

"Funding will prioritise entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 with much emphasis on female-owned businesses," she said.

Meanwhile, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, has called for residents not to take the law into their own hands, especially when it comes to the inspection of spaza shops.

He said they should let government and law enforcement agencies do their job.

"We'll engage with Operation Dudula about this matter. We know their stance when it comes to foreigners, so we'll talk to them to allow us to do our job," Hlabisa said.

He also called upon all those who operate spaza shops to register their shops and shouldn't wait for the 21 days to lapse.