The South African government has disbursed R6 million from the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund (SSSF), aimed at helping locally owned township and rural spaza shops. The fund provides grants and low-interest loans of up to R300,000 per shop for stock, infrastructure upgrades, and Point of Sale (POS) systems. However, progress has been slow due to verification processes, including citizenship checks and health inspections. The National Empowerment Fund (NEF) and Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEFDA) are administering the fund, ensuring shops meet hygiene and regulatory standards.
Meanwhile, South Africa is preparing to host the first Global Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) Ministerial Meeting in Johannesburg from 22 to 24 July 2025. Nearly 50 countries, including Brazil, India, and Kenya, will attend to discuss policies supporting small businesses. The government aims to use the event to push for a dedicated G20 working group on MSMEs, focusing on practical solutions rather than just discussions.
Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni emphasised the need for global cooperation to strengthen small business ecosystems, particularly for women, youth, and persons with disabilities. South Africa, as the current G20 president, is championing solidarity, equality, and sustainability in small business growth. The event will also feature Startup20 Task Force meetings, fostering partnerships between governments and private sectors to turn policies into action.