In an impassioned march organised by Action SA, South African spaza shop owners rallied on Wednesday in a bid to protect their livelihoods amid an ongoing government registration process intended to formalise the sector. The initiative aims to address health concerns linked to food contamination, particularly with regards to spaza shops operated by foreign nationals. But for many local shopkeepers, the government’s efforts simply do not go far enough.
“Most of us South Africans running tuck shops are known and registered, and then there are the illegal immigrants that the government has allowed into our townships,” said Gugu Zikalala, who has been operating her tuck shop in Dobsonville, Soweto. “Now the government is talking about expired goods; it’s not about expiry but about the poor quality products that they sell from factories the government knows about but has neglected to shut down,” she added, insisting that the root of the contamination that has led to multiple fatalities lies not within the shops but in the manufacturing processes happening in areas like Mayfair, Johannesburg.
Zikalala emphasizes a feeling of neglect from the government, arguing that authorities have little understanding of the day-to-day challenges faced by small business owners in the community. “I believe the government doesn’t have any idea of what is happening on the ground about small businesses, especially spaza shops, because they take us for granted. That’s why they have allowed illegal immigrants to come and take over our townships,” she opined, highlighting a long-standing frustration with government inaction.
Echoing her sentiments, Sonto Nkwanyana, who has successfully run her own spaza shop since 2014, foresees disastrous effects should counterfeit products continue to flood the market unchecked. “Our stock is good quality, but the foreigners manufacture their stock elsewhere. That’s why South Africans think their prices are low—it’s cheap stuff that becomes expensive the minute our competitors are forced out of business,” she lamented. Notably, Gauteng has witnessed a tragic wave of food poisoning incidents recently, resulting in the deaths of 23 individuals, the majority of whom were young children.
Nkwanyana further expressed her exasperation at the staggering number of foreign-owned spaza shops dotting the landscape. “In the same area, one foreigner owns something like eight spaza shops. You can’t even find them where we South Africans stock, so you don’t know where their stuff comes from,” she revealed, painting a vivid picture of the fierce competition faced by local shopkeepers.
In response to ongoing concerns, the government has urged spaza shop operators to formalise their businesses and register by 13 December 2024.