The Democratic Alliance (DA) has warned that Dawid Kruiper municipality’s decision to relax the regulation of established tuckshops is extremely unfair, and likely to aggravate the current lack of management and policing of tuckshops in the Upington area.
According to the new policy, tuckshops bigger than 25 square meters, that were established before 1 August 2025, need not comply with re-zoning requirements to change the property from residential to business use. Regardless of past non-compliance, they will be exempted from any action against them and may continue operating without a rezoning application, despite their size. In contrast, new tuckshops, established from 1 August 2025, must apply for re-zoning if they are bigger than 25 square meters. This is biased, creates double standards and will result in an ambiguous administrative and regulatory process.
A case in point is the endorsement of a 200 square meter tuckshop in Mier. The Speaker is vehemently protecting this tuckshop from consequence management on the grounds that there is no formal shopping centre in the area.
Aside from complicating the policing of tuckshops and compliance enforcement, the policy amendment will exacerbate lawlessness in a sector that is already troubled by the sale of expired and unsafe food, alcohol and illicit items, like drugs. Those who dodged compliance with re-zoning applications will further escape accountability while owners of new tuckshops will be discriminated against. They may also be tempted to abuse the recent provisions by misrepresenting the truth about their business start-up dates, to avoid re-zoning applications and higher property rates.
The DA opposed the amendments at the policy workshop, in committee and in council. We are of the firm view that all tuckshops bigger than 25 square meters must apply for re-zoning. We will therefore continue to push for a review of the misguided policy amendment, to avoid further dysfunction non-compliance in the tuckshop industry.