Foreign Nationals Dominate Spaza Shop Registrants in Limpopo
Foreign shop owners are leading the race to register spaza shops in Limpopo amid claims that some locals are also fronting for foreign nationals and doing registration on their behalf after taking bribes.
This has left municipal officials administering the new spaza registration regulations worried about the low turnout from locals.
The Vhembe district has received 586 applications and Capricorn over 300, with foreigners making up most applicants in both areas, says Zaid Kalla from the Limpopo Economic Development Department.
“The Department will prefer to see a larger influx of locals at municipalities, successfully registering spaza shops and administering such businesses on their own. A part of rebuilding our economy requires us to reclaim it,” Kalla said.
A municipal worker, speaking anonymously, claims foreigners are bribing locals to register shops in their names.
“There is big corruption in all municipalities throughout the country because no political asylum seeker is supposed to own a business here.
“A foreigner is only allowed if they have R5 million to invest in the country. They lure local women with money to register their businesses,” they said.
The registration drive follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 21-day deadline after several children died from eating bad food from spaza shops.
MEC Tshitereke Matibe is leading surprise inspections across Limpopo, removing illegal and expired food.
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Reports from elsewhere in the country include Alexandra in Gauteng, where it is reported that registration has not started.
Local councillor Adolf Marema said the people of Alexandra are still waiting for officials from the Johannesburg Metro to explain to them the logistics of the registration process.
“Whoever claims that they have registered in Alexandra would be lying unless they fraudulently registered elsewhere, and that will be reversed.”
Marema said many people in Alexandra don’t have title deeds, which is a requirement for registration.
In Thembisa, several people were seen flocking to different registration centres. Community leaders said many have already registered and there is good police visibility at all centres
Meanwhile, the Diepsloot Youth Centre was surrounded by long queues. Community leader Loyiso Toyiya said most of the people who came forward were foreign nationals.
“There are also allegations that people are coming from other townships to Diepsloot because their township authorities have rejected them.