City of Tshwane Mayor, Dr. Nasiphi Moya, has made a strong statement on the ownership of spaza shops in her city, emphasising that these businesses are reserved for locals. This comes as spaza shop registrations are being rolled out across South Africa, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s directive for store owners to register their businesses within 21 days.
The move follows a tragic incident in which 22 children lost their lives after consuming contaminated food from spaza shops in their communities, with many others falling ill. In a post on X, Moya shared the announcement, stating, “One by one Tshwane, we will be announcing the registration process for spaza shops in the next few days. Here in Tshwane, spazas are strictly for locals!” The post was accompanied by images showing Tshwane Metro Police inspecting spaza shops, verifying documents, and removing expired goods.
Her stance has sparked significant attention, especially amid growing concerns over the role of foreign nationals in the informal economy. However, many residents and users have expressed their support for the mayor’s position. Moya has consistently backed policies that prioritise economic opportunities for South Africans, and her focus on regulating spaza shops is seen by many as a positive step for local businesses.
This move has been hailed by local entrepreneurs who see it as a boost for their chances in a competitive and often saturated market. Meanwhile, the government has urged shop owners to complete their registrations by the specified deadline and has called for the process to proceed without disruption.
