Virgil James
The City of Johannesburg’s Department of Economic Development (DED), in partnership with the Department of Small Business Development, is launching a series outreach campaigns from Monday, 26 May 2025, to Wednesday, 9 July 2025.
These sessions will cover:
- Implementation of the Spaza Shop Fund
- Progress on Johannesburg’s spaza shop registration drive
- Key challenges facing township retail businesses
Councillor Nomoya Mnisi, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, urges spaza shop owners to attend: “We encourage all spaza shop owners to join these sessions and learn how to access funding. Compliance is critical – we’re working with owners to meet food safety standards, secure certificates of acceptability, and verify business details. Compliant operators will receive temporary permits after the roadshows.”
About the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund
Launched on 8 April 2025 by the Department of Small Business Development and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, this fund aims to:
- Strengthen the informal economy by supporting township and rural entrepreneurs
- Help spaza shops formalise their businesses and improve competitiveness
- Prioritise South African-owned spaza shops in townships and rural areas
| REGION | COORDINATOR | VENUE | DATE/TIME |
| Region A | Regional Office / DED | Diepsloot Youth Centre Hall | Friday, 20 June 2025, 09:00 – 13:00 |
| Region B | Regional Office/DED | Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre | Monday, 30 June 2025, 09:00- 13:00 |
| Region C | Regional Office/DED | Roodepoort City Hall | Tuesday, 17 June 2025, 09:00 – 13:00 |
| Region D | Regional Office/DED | Jabulani Civic Centre | Monday, 26 May 2025, 10:00 – 14:00 |
| Region E | Regional Office/DED | Safe Hub Alex | To Be Confirmed |
| Region F | Regional Office/DED | Braamfontein Recreation Centre | Tuesday, 3 June 2025, 10:00 – 14:00 |
| Region G | Regional Office/DED | Lenasia Civic Centre | Wednesday, 4 June 2025, 10:00 – 13:00 |
| Special DED Spaza Shop Funding Workshop | DED | Braam Park | Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 10:00 – 14:00 |
Eligible spaza shop owners can receive up to R300 000 through a combination of grants and interest-free loans. The funding can be used for stock purchases, infrastructure upgrades, and business skills development including strategic partnerships with local manufacturers, black industrialists and wholesalers for better pricing and access to quality products.
This initiative is expected to significantly reshape the spaza shop sector, promoting economic inclusion and addressing historical inequalities.
