31 BUSINESSES BAN FOR FOREIGNERS STARTS JANUARY

MBABANE – It is now official, non-Swazi citizens will not be allowed to operate businesses such as takeaway outlets and grocery shops as of January 1, 2018.

This follows the adoption of the Reservation of Certain Trades and Businesses for Swazi Citizens Regulations 2017 by the House of Assembly last Thursday.

According to the law, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Jabulani Mabuza, is now allowed to set the regulations into law within the next 14 days. The move was unanimously agreed to by the House.

In total, 31 kinds of businesses will now strictly be for Swazi citizens following the adoption of the regulations by the legislators.
However, foreigners who already hold licences in these businesses will not be affected, but only new entrants.   

Other businesses listed in the regulations include a dealer in household and proprietary, grocery, produce and handwork, private investigator, dealer or speculator in livestock, debt collector, street vendor and funeral parlour, and street vendors.

The regulations come under Section 20 of the Trading Licensing Order, 1975 and shall come into force on the date to be determined by the minister in a gazette.

The regulations state that the businesses or trades listed in schedule one are reserved for Swazis although a non-Swazi may obtain a licence, but it shall only be granted to a foreigner if there was reasonable justification for such a grant.
In welcoming the new law, Hhukwini Member of Parliament (MP) Saladin Magagula said it was up to all the MPs to protect Swazis in ensuring that the trades are strictly reserved for them.

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