The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development has warned small business owners that people are impersonating government officials conducting inspections.

The department’s spokesperson Sinenhlanhla Mthembu says they’ve had reports of such inspections in KwaDukuza north of Durban, as well as other parts of the province.

She says spaza shop owners and especially foreign nationals are being targeted for extortion.

Mthembu says a private company who was denied permission to do compliance visits, is behind these visits.

All spaza shops had to register at the beginning of the year following a spate of food poisoning related deaths.