Minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Thursday the problems of unregistered spaza shops and gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) required a societal response rather than only government reaction.
“Government reaction alone is not enough. We need the society to respond,” Ntshavheni said during a post-cabinet briefing.
Asked about the death of five children who died after allegedly consuming snacks from a spaza shop, she said the drive to register spaza shops started when she was minister for small business development.
She said it was South Africans who took the government to court saying foreign nationals can’t be forced to register their businesses.
“There is a court judgement. Even illegal foreign nationals are allowed to operate whereas to operate you must be registered.
“Foreign nationals must make an investment not less than R5 million. It does not cost more than R5 million to open a spaza shop,” she said.
“As South Africans we must take the decision. We are the ones who buy at spaza shops. If we want to make sure these spaza shops that are illegal and sell products that are not safe for our children, we must take the decision that... we are not buying at the spaza shop if it is not registered.”
Ntshavheni said the Small Business Development Department continued to work with municipalities to make sure spaza shops are registered.
However, she insisted that South Africans had complained when municipal officials conducted raids, confiscated and dumped products, including expired food at spaza shops.
“As South Africans, we can’t have our cake and eat it. We must decide what is in our best interests. I am sure the lives of our children and our lives are more important than buying cheaper and fake products,” she said.
Responding to a question on GBVF, the Minister said the scourge took place in homes and families and that it was known in circles of friends and families.
“As families and communities we have the greatest opportunity and potential to resolve GBVF by reporting to police. Government changed laws to ensure reporting of GBVF is not limited to a victim. Any member of society can report GBVF.”
“We call on communities, traditional leaders, community leaders and every member of the community to partner with the government and community policing forums to fight the scourge of GBVF that is crippling our country,” she said.
Ntshavheni also said the Cabinet welcomed the sentencing of convicted serial rapist Nkosinathi Phakathi to 42 life terms by the Gauteng High Court, saying this sent a strong warning to perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide that the nation will not be held at ransom by their heinous acts.
“Cabinet calls on South Africans to report all perpetrators of GBVF crimes or any form of violence against vulnerable persons – a child, older persons or person with a disability – to a local police station or call the toll-free Crime Stop number 086 00 10111.”
Cape Times