Thuli Madonsela speaks out against closure of spaza shops

Thuli Madonsela has opposed ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula’s suggestion that the government should immediately move to shut down all spaza shops in South Africa.

Madonsela argues that the immediate closure of spaza shops would exacerbate poverty and inequality, and redirect township financial flows to big capital.

Many children across the country have died and others hospitalised in several townships, including Soweto, after eating snacks bought at local spaza shops.

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Mbalula on Thursday said the ANC and its government should not behave as if they are not in power and demanded immediate action to address the matter.

He called on the government to shut all spaza shops, have them registered again and permanently close those without proper documentation. “Owners should be deported if they are not properly documented,” Mbalula added.

However, the former Public Protector believes that the closure “will mean customers shift to big business and by the time the spazas reopen new customer habits would have set in as happened with Covid-19”.

“I support the inspection of spaza shops and closing down delinquent ones that are selling fake and contaminated goods. What would be ill advised (as it would exacerbate poverty, hunger and inequality) is an arbitrary closure of all spaza shops followed by re-registration and reopening,” Madonsela said on X.