'It's not speculation': KZN Premier says 57.8% of spaza shops are owned by foreign nationals

KZN Premier Thami Ntuli said the province wanted to encourage South Africans to reclaim the sector while equipping them to operate sustainable businesses.

Premier Thami Ntuli revealed that nearly 60% of spaza shops in KwaZulu-Natal are owned by foreign nationals.

He attributed their competitive advantage to factors such as bulk buying, cooperative business models, links to wholesalers and, in some cases, the sale of illicit goods.

Ntuli said research conducted by the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) found that 57.8% of spaza shops in the province are owned by foreign nationals, while South Africans own 42.2%.

He made the remarks at the KZN Spaza Shop Roundtable in Durban on Tuesday, hosted by the provincial government and led by Ntuli and EDTEA MEC the Reverend Musa Zondi.