GQEBERHA, EASTERN CAPE — Property owners leasing premises to informal retailers are facing strict enforcement as the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality ramps up its spaza shop compliance drive. Local authorities have issued a stern warning that failure to adhere to land use, zoning regulations, and municipal by-laws will result in immediate legal and operational consequences.
The compliance push, coordinated by the municipality’s By-law Enforcement Task Team through the Office of the Chief Operating Officer, comes as inspection levels remain stubbornly low despite ongoing regulatory efforts. Officials revealed that many property owners are deliberately avoiding submitting mandatory compliance applications. Their primary hesitation stems from a fear that altering their financial status could jeopardize the social benefits they currently receive through the Assistance to the Poor Programme (ATTP).
This localized crackdown aligns with a broader national directive aimed at formalizing the informal sector. In November 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa mandated that all spaza shop operators and food-handling facilities across the country register with their local municipalities and adhere to all applicable legislation. Despite this presidential call to action, recent sweeps by the task team have uncovered widespread violations of food handling protocols and public health by-laws within the metro.
Municipal leadership emphasized that regulatory compliance is strictly mandatory, not optional, for both landlords and operators. Businesses must abide by the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act of 2013 (SPLUMA), alongside the Nelson Mandela Bay Land Use and Zoning Schemes, as well as various by-laws governing commercial operations.
Furthermore, any establishment preparing, storing, or vending food must strictly follow the Regulations Governing General Hygiene Requirements for Food Premises, the Transport of Food and Related Matters (R638 of 2018), and local Public Health By-laws. The municipality noted that these legislative frameworks are specifically designed to safeguard public health, ensure food safety, manage land use effectively, and protect local communities from unregulated business practices.
Looking ahead, the By-law Enforcement Task Team is set to significantly escalate its inspection operations starting this week. The renewed operational focus will heavily target spaza shop registration and licensing, zoning adherence, and rigorous food safety standards.
To execute this massive operational rollout, the municipality has assembled a formidable multi-agency coalition. The task team comprises the South African Police Service (SAPS), Metro Police, Nelson Mandela Bay Security Services, the Human Settlements Directorate, the Border Management Authority, the Eastern Cape Liquor Board, the Public Health Directorate, Traffic Services, and various other key stakeholders.
