Gauteng MEC of Finance and Economic Development Lebogang Maile says the number of spaza shops issued with application forms has increased from 13,616 to 21,172—an impressive rise of over 7,000.
Among these, 10,389 applications have been submitted across all Gauteng municipalities.
Maile was addressing the media in Johannesburg on the registration of spaza shops, food-handling facilities, and the extension of the application deadline.
Maile said however that the number of applications returned due to missing documentation has also grown, from 1,916 to 2,677, reflecting the larger volume of submissions.
“Applications from non-South African nationals have risen to 2,818, an increase of 213 since the last update. This demonstrates growing compliance with the President’s directive, signaling the effectiveness of Gauteng Provincial Government interventions,” said Maile.
He said municipalities have made strides in addressing bottlenecks.
For instance, the City of Ekurhuleni has issued 23 business licenses to date. In Johannesburg, 93 land-use applications have been approved, and 617 certificates of acceptability have been issued.
A consolidated report across all municipalities will follow.
“Compliance remains a critical challenge, particularly around zoning,” said Maile.
“Many spaza shop structures were erected without proper zoning provisions, with some built on vital municipal infrastructure such as water pipes, posing risks to safety and development.”
Municipalities are issuing correction notices to owners, with demolition considered only as a last resort when regularization is unfeasible.
He said compliance with land-use, building control, and health regulations typically takes 28 days to two months, and municipalities are expediting these processes to ensure sustainability and public safety.
He added that law enforcement remains a top priority to uphold compliance.
“Collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs ensures verification of asylum, immigration, and refugee documentation for non-South African nationals. Valid business visas and resident permits are non-negotiable requirements for operating spaza shops in Gauteng,” he said.
“To date, 541 non-compliant spaza shops have been shut down and will remain closed until they meet regulatory standards. The province’s 437 environmental health practitioners are conducting inspections, with plans to expand capacity to maintain consistent oversight.”
Maile said the Gauteng Provincial Government is assisting municipalities in adopting a comprehensive Spaza Shop Policy, modeled on the City of Ekurhuleni’s framework.
This policy regulates spaza shop operations, ensuring adherence to health and safety standards while promoting structured support through training, inspections, awareness campaigns, and resource access.
“These measures aim to create an inclusive, sustainable framework for spaza shop registration and operation, fostering compliance, safety, and economic growth across Gauteng,” he said.
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