President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on all informal business owners, including spaza shop operators, to register their businesses as part of a government effort to ensure proper regulation. Speaking at the National Presidential MSME & Cooperatives Awards in Midrand, Ramaphosa emphasized that compliance would be enforced to foster a fair and structured business environment. He also warned that businesses failing to meet these requirements would face legal consequences.

The event, hosted by the Department of Small Business Development, celebrated excellence among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives, acknowledging their contribution to South Africa’s economic development. By encouraging informal businesses to formalize, the government aims to provide better support and promote sustainable growth within this sector.

This move aligns with broader strategies to strengthen the role of MSMEs in job creation and economic inclusivity across South Africa, a mission that resonates with Pan-African goals of empowering small enterprises and local economies.