Xhakaza calls on small business owners to work with the law

By Johnathan Paoli

Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza has urged South African small business owners to comply with municipal bylaws and formalise their operations, warning that failure to do so not only places communities at risk but also prevents entrepreneurs from accessing government support aimed at growing township economies.

The mayor was speaking on Wednesday during a multi-departmental compliance blitz targeting spaza shops, wholesalers, informal traders and residential business operations in Vosloorus and Katlehong.

The operation involved officials from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, Economic Development, Environmental Health, Building Control, Home Affairs immigration services and the South African Police Service.

“It’s a big operation. We are ramping up the operation to ensure that there are bylaws across. We are here in Vosloorus, you can see this is a trading informal arrangement. It’s an informal economy, it’s an economy that we support,” Xhakaza said.

The mayor said the city’s intention was not