The Limpopo spaza shop owners will get an opportunity to learn more about how they can access financial and non-financial support from the Spaza Shop Support Fund at an interactive session that will take place at the George Phadagi Town Hall, Thohoyandou, on Friday, 6 June 2025 from 09:00.
The session is part of a country-wide campaign aimed at creating awareness about the Spaza Shop Support Fund. The campaign, which began in KwaZulu-Natal last month, is hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (the dtic) and the Department of Small Business Development (DSDB). The R500-million fund was launched by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Parks Tau, and the Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Stella Tembisa Ndabeni in Soweto on 8 April 2025.
The national education and awareness campaign is in partnership with the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), the agencies of the DSBD and the dtic, respectively, which will be responsible for administering the fund. The campaign will be in the form of interactive sessions in which spaza owners in Vhembe District Municipality, will get an opportunity to learn more about how to apply for the fund and which requirements will they be expected to comply with.
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.
The aim of the fund is to support South African-owned township community convenience shops, including spaza shops, in order to increase their participation in the townships and rural areas’ retail trade sector and to provide critical financial and non-financial support to township businesses, including community convenience stores and spaza shops.
The fund also provides various types of support including the initial purchase of stock via delivery channel partners, upgrading of building infrastructure, systems, refrigeration, shelving and security, as well as training programmes which includes Point of Sale devices, business skills, digital literacy, credit health, food safety, business compliance. The fund also seeks to bolster the broader supply chain by fostering partnerships with local manufacturers, black industrialists and wholesalers. Through bulk purchasing arrangements and the promotion of locally produced goods, spaza shops will benefit from reduced costs and increased access to quality products. The session will take place at Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo as follows:
DATE : Friday, 6 June 2025
TIME : 9:00
VENUE :George Phadagi Town Hall, Previously called Thohoyandou Town Hall, Thohoyandou
Members of the media who are interested in covering the event are requested to submit their names to Tshilidzi Mugovhoro via email at TMugovhoro@thedtic.gov.za or WhatsApp on 082 879 6792.
Enquiries
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Mobile: 079 5083 457
WhatsApp: 074 2998 512
E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and the Department of Small Business Development.
X: @the_dtic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedti?mibextid=ZbWKwL
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedtic
Website: https://www.thedtic.gov.za/
OR
Noko Manyelo – Acting Head: Communication Management: Corporate Management Services
Department of Small Business Development
Tel: +27 12 394 9966
Mobile: +27 71 265 8611
Email: nmanyelo@dsbd.gov.za
Website: www.dsbd.gov.za
OR
Moses Shibambu-Deputy Manager, Media Liaison
Vhembe District Municipality
Tel: 015 960 2000
Mobile: 072 1173726
Email: shibambum@vhembe.gov.za
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