These are the rules local spaza shops and SMME's need to follow in order to operate during lockdown

Retail 7 April 2020

The Minister of Small Business Development Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced that any grocery store including corner shops, spaza shops and fruit and veg stores are permitted to operate during lockdown irrespective of the nationality of the owners.

However, there are certain rules and regulations that need to be adhered to and are mainly aimed at spaza shops and informal traders, they are applicable to all SMMEs.

Here are a few main rules:

• Only the necessary or few staff members should be working to ensure that the enterprise if being safely operated during the lockdown period.

• Grocery stores are permitted to operate during the lockdown period irrespective of the nationality of its owner/s

• All spaza shop owners and informal food traders must hold a permit issued by their respective local municipalities allowing them to trade

• No person may stay in a grocery store overnight in contravention of the Food Safety and Health Standards

• Only the sale of foodstuff and basic necessities are permitted

• All staff must at all times carry a permit to perform essential services as contemplated in the lockdown regulations

• A stamp, or authorised signature, on the permit to perform essential services, is acceptable

• All staff must at all times carry a positive photo identification

• The grocery stores must uphold the health and hygiene requirements by:
- Maintaining a social distance among customers and between the trader and customer of at least one metre
- Disinfecting and sanitising trading spaces in line with the directions issued by the Department of Health