Letter to editor
I have nothing against foreign shopkeepers in our townships, but I think they should be treated like any small business expected to comply with the regulations of running a small business in South Africa.
Local small businesses are expected to register and comply with the regulations, yet most of the spaza shop operators are not compliant neither to do they pay taxes like the rest of us. What is making matters worse, the food they sell in their unhygienic shops is also not monitored by local health inspectors.
This cannot be acceptable. Local business people view this preferential treatment of illegal business operators as unfair. Not only do illegal businesses violate the country’s business ethics and procedures; they also violate health and municipal by-laws.
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The Ekurhuleni metro must start embarking on a campaign to enforce municipal by-laws and health by-laws to bring these businesses in line with the regulations. Unless action is taken, we will continue having all these problems contributing to hatred between the locals and foreigners.
Zandile Buthelezi
Spruitview
Letter via smart phone
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