Mogale City is calling on property owners with non-compliant spaza shops operating on their properties to consider taking over these businesses and turning them into compliant and sustainable enterprises.
The call follows a series of enforcement operations led by the Department of Economic Development, together with law-enforcement agencies across Gauteng, as part of the Lokisa Kwebo ya Gago/Qondishishini Lako/Fix Your Business campaign. These operations combine enforcement with education campaigns to ensure that business owners understand and comply with applicable by-laws and regulatory requirements
A key issue identified during engagements with business owners is the need for properties operating spaza shops to have the appropriate business zoning.
Mogale City’s Local Economic Development Department is therefore encouraging property owners to view this as an opportunity to take ownership of non-compliant spaza shops operating on their properties. Where the necessary infrastructure is already in place, property owners can formalise the businesses, meet the required compliance standards and continue operating them as legitimate enterprises.
Once compliant, eligible property owners may also be able to leverage available support through the Spaza Shop Fund to assist with stocking and strengthening their businesses, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements.
The municipality emphasises that property owners have an important role to play in promoting compliance by ensuring that businesses operating on their properties meet the necessary requirements. Rather than allowing non-compliant spaza shops to continue operating, property owners are encouraged to consider taking over these businesses, formalising them and contributing to a compliant and thriving township economy.