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Breaking the barriers: Government should simplify spaza shops businesses registration process.

Breaking the barriers: Government should simplify spaza shops business registration process. 

By: Mohamed kosow Salat. 

The government is giving undue stress to foreign nationals through the stringent registration requirements of spaza shops in townships. 

In fact, although the president gave a directive to register within 21 days, the conditions have turned out to be a massive hurdle.

Shop owners are required to have a business visa or work permit. In turn, the requirements for these are an investment of R5 million into a business or submitting a detailed business plan. Secondly, another issue is zoning, since many spaza shops are run from informal structures such as Mandela houses.

The registration conditions should be relaxed to favor such microbusinesses. This includes adjusting zoning regulations and making available necessary equipment, such as sanitation facilities and fire extinguishers, at reasonable costs.

The local municipality can also go a long way in assisting with the easier registration of such businesses. Availing the necessary equipment and simplifying procedures will decrease the number of frustrating and anxiety-prone applications by foreign nationals.

After all, spaza shops are a lifeline for many people in townships, and their registration is vital to the local economy. By easing the conditions of their registration, the government can help ensure the sustainability of these microbusinesses and the communities they serve. 

South Africans are renowned for their tolerance and hospitality; however, the current outbreaks of foodborne illnesses that claimed the lives of 22 schoolchildren have increased suspicion between the local community and foreign nationals resident in townships.

I think that it is unlikely for foreign nationals operating businesses in these areas to harm their customers.

I call on all South Africans to be tolerant and to always verify any information that comes to them before posting it on social media, for misinformation may trigger violence and threaten the safety of our country.

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