We need funding, say spaza shop owners
However, each spaza shop needs a Certificate of Analysis that confirms products meet specific quality and safety standards.
Spaza shop owners in the Ugu District say that the government is lenient with foreign nationals and they seem to have more rights.
This was said at a funding application workshop at the Port Shepstone Civic Centre recently.
Spaza shop owners were called to be given information on how to apply for funding, but it turned into a complaints session.
Owners complained that it is not easy to get a Certificate of Analysis (COA), which makes it hard for them to apply for any funding offered, but say that some foreign nationals who don’t have the correct documents to be in South Africa have managed to get COAs.
The COA confirms products meets specific quality and safety standards in a spaza shop.
Without this certificate a spaza shop owner cannot get funding and in time it’s believed government will close down spazas that are not compliant.
Ningi Nzimakwe said that she needs money to fix all the faults in her spaza shop to qualify for a COA, but it is hard because the money she earns is not enough.
“One of the requirements is that the shop must have a ceiling. At the moment the profit I am making is to sustain myself and my family, I don’t have cash to buy ceiling boards and pay for labour.”
Another owner, Robert Gumede said that these rules and regulations are made to oppress spaza shop owners.
“We ask that when the government comes to us with help, they help us truthfully and not oppress us.”
He also mentioned that the category used to inspect spaza shops is the same as with the big retail stores which is unfair because they are not the same.
“Some of the requirements do not align with our shops and not all spaza shop sell cooked food. Also, some of the things we sell are loose items, not packs, but once inspectors find loose items they confiscate them.”
Sihle Mbatha from the Local Economic Development office in Ugu said the municipality only deals with compliance and encourages owners to register.
He added that they are aware of the challenges faced by owners and in meetings discuss how to make it easier for owners to get their COA.
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