The deadline for the registration of all spaza shops and food handling outlets across the country has been extended to 28 February 2025 after many store owners struggled to register within the initial 21 days.

Outlining the reasons for extending the registration for all spaza shops and food handling businesses to 28 February 2025, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa said the government understood the concerns raised by some stakeholders about the registration deadline.

Hlabisa, who was speaking on Wednesday, 18 December, a day after President Cyril Ramaphosa's 21-day registration deadline expired, said the initial deadline was set to address the urgent need to ensure compliance with health and safety standards after a series of foodborne illnesses and deaths allegedly related to spaza shops.

He said a lot of work had been done over the 21 days, including, approving 19,386 applications in the 392 registration centres across the country.

A total of 42,915 applications were received for processing by officials between 15 November and 17 December 2024.

Many spaza shop owners had voiced their frustration while trying to register, citing issues such as the struggle to gather the required documentation in time and closures or inefficiencies at registration offices.

Hlabisa emphasised that registered spaza shops still needed to obtain a trading licence.

"Those who have registered their businesses and...