Please find attached soundbite in Afrikaans by Cornél Dreyer.
Please find attached soundbite in English by Cornél Dreyer.
- DA raises concerns over RMLM’s unclear and contradictory business licensing requirements affecting businesses in Zeerust,
- Businesses are being forces to comply with processes that have not been properly published or communicated,
- DA calls for urgent clarity to protect local businesses and economic activity.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality has raised serious concerns over the contradictory business licensing documents being circulated by the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality (RMLM).
Business owners across Zeerust, including formal businesses and informal traders, are being forced to comply with unclear requirements that have not been properly published or lawfully communicated. The application pack issued by the municipality appears to combine extracts from the North West Business Licensing Act No. 3 of 2019 and Provincial Gazette notices, presenting them as if they were a valid municipal bylaw.
This is unacceptable and creates unnecessary uncertainty for businesses trying to operate legally.
Key concerns include:
- Business licensing is regulated by the North West Business Licensing Act, 2019, which is already in force.
- RMLM has no published municipal business licensing bylaw in the Provincial Gazette.
- The municipality has failed to comply with Section 75 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and Section 21A of the Municipal Systems Act, which require transparency and proper public communication of policies and bylaws.
Businesses should not be penalised because of municipal failures. Entrepreneurs and traders play a vital role in creating jobs, supporting livelihoods, and growing the local economy, yet they are being met with confusion instead of clear guidance.
The DA calls on RMLM to:
- Immediately publish the correct licensing framework online for all businesses.
- Provide clarity on requirements for informal traders and foreign nationals in line with the Business Act 71 of 1991.
- Ensure all future municipal processes are transparent, properly communicated, and legally compliant.
The DA will continue to stand with Zeerust residents and the business community in fighting for accountability, good governance, and an environment where local businesses can thrive.
Residents who want to see change are encouraged to register to vote by 4 November 2026 and use their democratic voice to build a municipality that works for them.