ANC vows to deport every foreigner who runs an illegal tuckshop in South Africa as government shuts down 800 shops

The African National Congress (ANC) has issued a stark warning: foreign nationals illegally operating spaza shops in South Africa will be deported.

This firm stance, announced by ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula at a press briefing at Luthuli House in Johannesburg on Friday, follows a government crackdown on non-compliant businesses and comes amidst a national crisis sparked by food-borne illnesses that have tragically claimed the lives of over 22 children.

Mbalula’s comments build upon President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent interventions aimed at addressing the food safety crisis. Last month, Ramaphosa mandated that all spaza shops and food-handling businesses register with their local municipalities within 21 days.

This directive, intended to improve food safety standards and regulation, has resulted in a significant registration drive, with 51,788 spaza shops registered to date. However, the deadline, set for December 13th, looms large, and the consequences for non-compliance are severe.

“The spaza shops that are not compliant as per the president’s grace period should cease operating or face the law,” Mbalula stated unequivocally.

“We cannot watch while our children die and the local economy suffers as a result of lawlessness.” This strong message reflects the ANC’s determination to tackle the issue head-on. Already, 800 shops have been closed due to non-compliance, with a staggering 93% of those closures affecting foreign-owned businesses, according to Mbalula’s Wednesday statement. In November alone, a large-scale operation resulted in the closure of at least 1,000 spaza shops, warehouses, and supermarkets, with nearly 200,000 shops inspected and significant quantities of stock confiscated.

Mbalula’s announcement goes beyond simple closure; it explicitly calls for the deportation of those operating illegally.

“The spaza shops that are not compliant…should cease operating or face the law. We cannot watch when our children die, and the local economy suffers as a result of lawlessness,” he emphasised.

He further clarified, “South Africans must work, and we must work together to get rid of these illegal activities. We must clamp down as we do right now that those illegal spaza shops, particularly by foreign nationals, must also close down and those who are found must be deported with immediate effect.”

This hardline approach is not without context. Mbalula acknowledged that South Africans have been complicit in facilitating these illegal operations, stating, “I am aware that South Africans have aided the illegal activities including in government by assisting these illegal foreigners to acquire legal status to operate in our country.”

He stressed the ANC’s belief that “spaza shops and other small businesses must be preserved for South Africans going forward.” This sentiment aligns with Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni’s stern warning to South Africans who register spaza shops on behalf of foreign nationals.

The ANC’s commitment to empowering South Africans within the spaza shop sector is a key element of their economic revitalisation strategy for townships and rural areas. Mbalula highlighted the progress made, saying, “The time is now, as an organisation, we continue to make strides in reclaiming the spaza shop sector as part of revitalising township and rural economies. Many spaza shop owners are registering in line with the president’s call, ensuring that South Africans benefit from this important sector of our economy.”

However, Mbalula’s message was not solely directed at foreign nationals. He also addressed South Africans who have aided illegal activities, stating, “South Africa is not a playground for lawlessness. Anyone who undermines our legal system or compromises the safety and economic opportunities of South Africans will face the full might of the law. This includes immigrants who engage in criminal activities and South Africans who enable this criminality by illegally registering businesses or aiding criminal behaviour, zama zamas, drug peddlers and drug laboratories and illegal immigrants.“

He appealed to the public for assistance in enforcing the law, urging citizens to become “the eyes and ears of government to act decisively in relation to this.” Furthermore, he called on the government to increase the number of inspectors to ensure compliance and to prevent the exploitation of the system.

“We call on the government to employ additional inspectors to monitor the sector and ensure that it serves its intended purpose: empowering South Africans and restoring economic dignity to our communities,” he stated.

While acknowledging that legal immigrants are welcome in South Africa, Mbalula made it clear that the government will not tolerate those who violate the law.