SMME grocery stores permitted to operate during South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown

South Africa’s Minister of Small Business Development, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has issued directions aimed at helping SMMEs operating grocery stores in the country, including corner shops, spaza shops and fruit and vegetable stores, comply with the government’s COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

SMME grocery stores are permitted to operate during the lockdown period irrespective of the nationality of their owners provided that they meet the following requirements listed in the statement below.

The following is a statement on behalf of South Africa’s Ministry of Small Business Development:

MEDIA STATEMENT

DIRECTIONS TO ASSIST SMMEs OPERATING GROCERY STORES, CORNER SHOPS, SPAZA SHOPS TO COMPLY WITH COVID-19 LOCKDOWN REGULATIONS

Minister of Small Business Development (DSBD), Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has, in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002) issued Directions aimed at assisting SMMEs operating grocery stores including corner shops, spaza shops, fruit and vegetable stores to comply with the COVID-19 Lockdown Regulations. 

In terms of the lockdown regulations, all enterprises operating within the boarder of the Republic of South Africa are expected to close during the lockdown period except for enterprises which are designated as providers of essential goods and services as per Annexure (b) to the lockdown regulations.

The Minister would like to point out that in terms of the recently gazetted Directions, grocery stores which include corner shops, spaza shops and fruit and vegetable stores are permitted to operate during lockdown period irrespective of the nationality of the owners provided that they adhere to the following:

1. Must hold permits issued by their respective local municipality allowing them to trade in line with the provisions of the Business Act 71 of 1991 as amended.
2. No person may stay overnight in the grocery store as this in contravention of the Food Safety and Health Standards.
3. Only the sale of food staff and basic necessities is permitted, grocery stores must not sell products or goods that are prohibited by the lockdown Regulations.
4. The grocery stores must uphold the Health and Hygiene requirements by:

• Maintaining a social distance amongst customers and between the trader and customer of at least 1-metre.
• Disinfecting and sanitizing trading spaces in line with the directions issued by the Department of Health.
• Spaza shop owner and informal food traders currently trading without permits may apply for temporary permits, and in case of Non-South African citizens, the business owner (a) must have been lawfully  residing in the republic and must hold a valid passport with a visa issued by the department of Home Affairs in terms of section 10 of the Immigration Act, 2002 (13 of 2002), authorising him or her to operate a business (b) must alternatively hold an asylum seekers’ permit issued in terms of section 22 of the Refugees Act, 1998 (Act 130 of 1998), which allows him or her to work. Permission to operate will be linked to the period covered by the asylum seekers’ permit.

The Informal Food Traders as referred to in the Regulations are limited to Fruit and Vegetable informal traders and the Langanas, who operate in the Northern Cape and Western Cape.

All enterprises referred to must ensure that they have absolute minimum number of staff necessary to safely operate the enterprise. Furthermore, employers are encouraged to provide transport for their employees during the lockdown period.

SMMEs wishing to enquire on information to clarify their status as rendering essential services or providing essential goods may contact the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) on 0860 663 7867, alternatively send their queries to [email protected].

Enquiries:[email protected] / +27 (0) 66 285 0481

Issued by GCIS on behalf of

The Ministry of Small Business Development

07 April 2020

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