Govt's drive to register & regularise spaza shops taking shape, says Ramaphosa

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa said that government's drive to register and regularise spaza shops was taking shape.

He said that authorities had visited over 200,000 spaza shops as government continues its nationwide blitz, forcing thousands to close shop.

Ramaphosa was making his annual address to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday, where he briefed delegates on issues affecting the country.

His address comes two weeks after he ordered the immediate closure of all spaza shops linked to child deaths.

"Since we announced a range of measures two weeks ago, multi-disciplinary teams have been conducting inspections of spaza shops across the country. Nearly 200,000 spaza shops have been visited. More than 1,000 spaza shops, supermarkets and warehouses have had to be closed down."