eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda is calling on businesses in the city to renew their business licenses. They have until January 31, 2024, to do so. Picture: supplied
The eThekwini Municipality is calling on all businesses in the city to renew their operating licenses.
Businesses have until January 31, 2024, to renew the licenses to continue trading for the new year. The renewal season starts annually on December 1.
This business-compliance process is championed by the municipality’s business licensing department, which is under the business support, tourism, markets and agri-business unit. eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said the renewal was free but mandatory for businesses to continue operating.
“Renewal is a statutory requirement and ensures compliance as well as proper management of businesses. The business licenses that need to be renewed are within the sectors of food establishments and health or entertainment facilities," he said.
The licences can be renewed online through municipal e-services at www.durban.gov.za or by visiting the business licensing offices where the trading licence application was initially made.
Mr Kaunda said every license holder was legally required to confirm that the business for which the license was issued was still being conducted from the premises specified in the licence and that no other business for which a license was needed was being conducted from the same licensed premises.
Licence inspectors with other law enforcement agencies will be doing random inspections to enforce compliance.
Mayor Kaunda encouraged businesses that were trading illegally to apply for licences as it was a criminal act to trade without one. For food and accommodation establishments, a licence is R574, while a licence for running an entertainment venue is R2 842. You only pay once for a license that is valid for as long as the business is operational.
Supporting documents required for renewal of licenses are the original licence; a certified copy of the licence holder’s identity document; a proxy letter (if the applicant for renewal is not the licence holder); SAPS fingerprints clearance (for all persons in effective control of health facilities or entertainment businesses); and close corporation or company documents (if the licence holder is registered as such).
The annual notification form can be downloaded from the business-licensing webpage or collected at licensing offices.
For more information, contact 031 311 4535 or email: licensing@durban.gov.za or contact your nearest regional office.