Spaza shop owners in KwaZulu-Natal will soon have access to critical knowledge and tools designed to take their businesses to the next level. On Thursday, 26 June 2025, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in collaboration with the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), will host an interactive Spaza Shop Support Awareness Campaign session in the Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality at Bulwer Town Hall.
Hosted in collaboration with the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), the campaign follows the launch of the R500-million Spaza Shop Support Fund by Ministers Parks Tau and Stella Tembisa Ndabeni in Soweto on 8 April 2025.
The session aims to equip local entrepreneurs with the knowledge they need to access funding, meet compliance standards, and build sustainable businesses in the township economy.
Spaza shop owners and informal traders in the Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality will have an opportunity to engage with officials and stakeholders on how to apply for the fund and gain a better understanding of the compliance and operational requirements needed to benefit from the support. The campaign places a strong focus on formalisation, business development, and sustainable participation in the township economy.
According to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Parks Tau, with this fund, government is taking a concrete step to formalise and empower the informal sector. He says supporting spaza shops would be enabling entrepreneurs, often women and young people, to participate fully in the economic process.
“These small businesses generate employment, drive local commerce, and channel much-needed income into communities that have long been underserved. Studies show that small businesses account for a significant portion of job creation in South Africa. By providing spaza shop owners with financial support, infrastructure upgrades, and essential business training, we are setting the stage for sustainable job creation,” says Tau.
The Minister of Small Business Development, Ms. Stella Tembisa Ndabeni, says the role played by SEDFA and NEF is truly appreciated and the department believes this fund will go a long way in assisting shop owners that are registered and have operating permits.
“Our partnership ensures that spaza shop owners are not only funded but are also trained, mentored, and integrated into reliable supply chains. This is about building long-term sustainability for township retail,” adds Ndabeni.
Through initiatives like this, government aims to ensure that township and rural-based convenience shops are better equipped to thrive in a competitive market.
The session will take place at the Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, as follows:
DATE : Thursday, 26 June 2025
TIME : 09:00
VENUE : Bulwer Town Hall, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal
Members of the media who are interested in covering the event are requested to submit their names to via email at TMugovhoro@thedtic.gov.za or WhatsApp on 082 879 6792.
Enquiries
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
Tel: +27 (0)12 394 1643
Mobile: +27 (0)79 508 3457
WhatsApp: 074 299 8512
Email: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
X: @the_dtic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedti?mibextid=ZbWKwL
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedtic
Website: https://www.thedtic.gov.za/
OR
Siphe Macanda – Director: Communication Management
Department of Small Business Development
Mobile and WhatsApp: 082 355 2399
E-mail: SMacanda@dsbd.gov.za
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DepartmentOfSmallBusinessDevelopment
X: @DSBD_SA
Website: https://www.dsbd.gov.za/
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and the Department of Small Business Development.
Share this:
