The African National Congress (ANC) on Wednesday refuted what it termed "misleading narratives", suggesting that the registration and regulation of all spaza shops favoured foreign nationals.

Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the closure of spaza shops implicated in food-borne illnesses that had claimed the lives of 22 children in recent weeks, and called for all spaza shops and food handling facilities to be registered with municipalities within 21 days.

He said any shop not registered within 21 days, and that did not meet all health standards, would be closed.

Ramaphosa’s interventions to mitigate the current outbreak of foodborne illnesses and illicit trade, have been largely criticised, with residents claiming the measures are prioritising foreign nationals.

The ANC said the interventions were designed to address pressing socioeconomic challenges, protect public health, and revitalise local economies, and aimed to ensure fairness, compliance and safety.

Soweto community members and Operation Dudula have led protests against the registration of businesses for foreign nationals.

Meanwhile, ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri called on communities to support the registration measures by refraining from activities that undermined their implementation.

“...this includes avoiding practices such as facilitating marriages of convenience for undocumented immigrants to acquire citizenship. Such actions are not only illegal but also undermine the integrity of our laws and will be met with appropriate legal consequences,” she said.

The party encouraged communities and small businesses to work closely with municipalities, health authorities, law enforcement agencies, and government departments.

“Together, we can create safer and healthier environments for our people while fostering sustainable economic opportunities,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.