The Department of Small Business Development says around R180 million has been approved under the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund
The Department of Small Business Development says around R179.6 million has been approved under the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund, but many shop owners are still waiting for assistance.
The fund was launched in 2025 to support South African-owned spaza shops in townships and rural areas, following government concerns about food safety, compliance, and the need to strengthen informal retail businesses.
However, concerns have also been raised about delays in the rollout, strict compliance requirements, and cases where some applications were rejected after inspections found non-existent shops or incorrect ownership details.
In a press briefing on Friday, Director-General Thulisile Manzini said the government is making progress in rolling out the fund, but that licensing backlogs and verification processes continue to slow down implementation.
