By Celani Sikhakhane
- The KwaZulu-Natal government plans to take spaza shops from undocumented foreigners and give them to locals.
- The move follows deaths of over 20 children from suspected poisoned food bought at spaza shops across South Africa.
In a first bold move to return the township economy to South Africans, the KwaZulu-Natal government wants to give spaza shops run by undocumented owners to locals.
In addition, the Provincial Government intends to help locals with money to run the businesses.
Premier Thami Ntuli announced this plan on Thursday in Durban. He said his government wants to give the economy back to locals “who have been suffering for years”.
Cogta Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has already made new laws about how spaza shops should be run. Now all municipalities must follow these rules.
“We will work with municipalities to take back spaza shops owned by undocumented foreign nationals and give them to the people of KwaZulu-Natal,” Ntuli said.
He added that they will help locals who own spaza shops with funding, saying it is the provincial government’s responsibility to support local shop owners.
This decision comes after many complaints about undocumented foreigners taking over township and rural spaza shops.
KZN municipalities are already closing big shops in towns owned by undocumented foreigners. Many were found selling expired food and keeping illegal guns.
The crackdown started after children got sick from eating snacks and biscuits bought at these shops. Over 20 children in South Africa have died from suspected poisonous food from foreign-owned spaza shops.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has said the government is working on controlling the spaza shop sector.
Pictured above: KZN Premier Thami Ntuli is taking back spaza shops owned by unknown foreign nationals to locals with funding assistance.
Source: Zandile Shange
