• Forty eight year old Terence Mpisane runs an underground spaza shop for zama zamas, charging high prices because miners stay underground for weeks without other options.
• He makes up to R6,000 profit in a good month, but says stock theft by miners remains his biggest challenge.
Terence Mpisane has found an unusual way to survive unemployment.
The 48 year old runs a successful spaza shop underground for zama zamas.
Mpisane is one of many South Africans who struggled to find work.
Without start up capital, he began selling loose cigarettes, sweets and gum at a mine gate in Carletonville.
His customers were illegal miners who often stayed underground for long periods.
Because they did not resurface for weeks, Mpisane saw a business opportunity.
He decided to open a spaza shop underground to supply the miners while they worked.
Mpisane said he hired a young man from his area who is a zama zama.
The man runs the shop while also digging for minerals.
“I hired one of the boys from my area whom we know to be a zama zama. While he is digging for minerals, he is also running my shop and earns R1,000 per month,” said Mpisane.
Mpisane said he charges high prices because the miners have no other options.
“They are down there for weeks to months without resurfacing, they are forced to accept my price,” he said.
He said a Savanna cigarette that usually costs R1 per loose draw is sold for R5.
A loaf of brown bread sells for R30, compared to the usual price of R18.
“My business is doing great. I don’t even have to worry about going underground,” he said.
However, he said the business is not without problems.
His main challenge is stock theft.
“Some of the zama zamas forcefully take stock without paying for it or trade a mineral like diamonds,” said Mpisane.
He said he often has no choice but to accept explanations from the worker running the shop.
“I can’t complain because I am not down there to run my shop. I must take whatever reason he gives me,” he said.
Mpisane admitted that the miners are operating illegally.
He said the income from the business has supported him and his four children since 2023.
In a good month, he makes a profit of about R6,000.
Pictured above: Sack carrying minerals
Image sourced: Supplied
