MEC Jesta Sidell says the introduction of the Spaza Shop Support Fund reaffirms government’s commitment to the township economy as a key driver of inclusive growth, job creation and spatial transformation in South Africa. MEC Sidell said this during Spaza Shop Support Fund (SSSF) Awareness Session, which took place in Kinross, in the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, on 05 February 2026.
The fund was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in November 2025, and it aims to support formalisation and regulatory compliance, strengthen business sustainability and competitiveness, and enable spaza shops to transition beyond survivalist operations into viable and scalable enterprises.
The SSSF Awareness is a countrywide initiative aimed at supporting Community Convenience Shops in townships, particularly spaza shops, which play a crucial role in South Africa’s informal economy. The session also aimed at promoting and enhancing local control of spaza shops while improving compliance with food safety regulations.
“The introduction of the fund is both timely and strategic. It happens at a time when government, at all levels, is decisively repositioning the township and rural economy as a central pillar of inclusive economic growth, employment creation, and spatial redress. The SSSF is therefore a deliberate corrective measure. It seeks to reclaim, rebuild, and revitalise the township and rural economy by placing South African-owned spaza shops at the centre of economic participation” MEC Sidell eagerly said.
Eligible spaza shops will benefit from the SSSF Awareness programme, which offers extensive assistance of up to R100,000 covering stock purchases and operating capital, upgrades to equipment and infrastructure, point-of-sale systems, fundamental digitalisation, business development help, financial management training, and support with compliance costs when relevant.
“Government recognises that when spaza shops grow, local economies grow. When spaza shops are sustainable, communities are stabilised. And when township enterprises thrive, the broader challenge of unemployment is directly confronted. This intervention is not merely about disbursing funds. It is about building compliant, resilient, and growth-oriented businesses that can withstand market pressures and contribute meaningfully to local economic development”, MEC concluded.
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