In a written parliamentary reply ,the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa has confirmed that over 2500 foreign nationals were approved to run spaza shops.

JUST A FRACTION

Hlabisa said they received more than 80 000 applications to be granted permission to operate spaza shops in the townships.

"These figures are from when applications were received in July last year up to January this year after calls to shutdown all non-compliant spaza shops grew louder following a series of deaths from mostly minors who were said to have consumed snacks. So far 15 528 applications have been approved for owners of spaza shops who are South African citizens," he said

SOUTH AFRICANS ONLY

Hlabisa recently explained  that the R500-million fund aimed at supporting township and rural businesses, including spaza shops, will only be available to South Africans. 

He said foreign nationals are required to have R5 million to invest in SA to start a business and therefore will not need the funding.

"What will happen is that once a person has been verified and found with an existing business which is compliant with the basic minimum requirements as reflected in the application, then that business person will approach the department of small business enterprises and apply," he said.