Beaufort west: In its continued efforts to uplift township and rural-based businesses, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in collaboration with the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), is set to host a Spaza Shop Support Awareness Campaign in the Western Cape. Friday’s session is scheduled to take place at the KwaMandlenkosi Community Hall in the Beaufort West Local Municipality and is open to informal traders, spaza shop owners, and micro-retailers operating in the area.
According to South African Government News Agency, this community-focused initiative follows the national launch of the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund in April 2025 by dtic Minister Parks Tau and DSBD Minister Stella Tembisa Ndabeni. The fund aims to help small retailers transition into the formal economy, access funding, and strengthen their businesses.
Delivered in partnership with the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), the campaign offers practical tools, guidance on compliance, and pathways for inclusion in formal supply chains. Attendees in Beaufort West will have the opportunity to engage directly with programme implementers, ask questions about the application process, and learn more about the business development resources available to them.
Minister Tau stated that the fund represents a concrete step by government to formalise and empower the informal sector. He mentioned that supporting spaza shops means enabling entrepreneurs, often women and young people, to participate fully in the economy. These small businesses generate employment, drive local commerce, and channel much-needed income into communities that have long been underserved. Studies show that small businesses account for a significant portion of job creation in South Africa. By providing spaza shop owners with financial support, infrastructure upgrades, and essential business training, the government is setting the stage for sustainable job creation.
Meanwhile, Minister Ndabeni expressed her appreciation for the role played by SEDFA and the NEF and stated that her department believes the fund will significantly assist shop owners who are registered and hold valid operating permits. She emphasized that the partnership ensures spaza shop owners are not only funded but also trained, mentored, and integrated into reliable supply chains, thereby building long-term sustainability for township retail.
Through initiatives like this, the government aims to ensure that township and rural-based convenience shops are better equipped to thrive in a competitive market.