PUBLIC STATEMENT

DATE: 27 March 2026

PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE TAKES ACTIONS ON CONCERNS BROUGHT UP DURING OVERSIGHT VISITS TO SPAZA SHOPS

The Portfolio Committee on Economic Development and Tourism conducted oversight visits to a number of spaza shops throughout KwaZulu-Natal on March 23 and 24, 2026, to confirm whether beneficiaries received assistance under the Zimele Traders Fund.

The Fund was created in February 2024 by the Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs to help spaza shop owners who had been severely impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns and the July 2021 looting.

The initiative was carried out by Ithala Development Finance Corporation, an EDTEA entity, and provided each spaza shop owner with a grant of R20 000 in the form of trading stock. A total budget of R10 million was set aside for this initiative, which aimed to reach 500 spaza shops throughout the province.

During oversight visits this week, beneficiaries expressed serious concerns about receiving unrequested items, expired food, and stock valued at less than R20,000.

In response, the department was called to a special, lengthy meeting by the committee chairman, Honourable Mafika Mndebele, where a comprehensive report was presented and immediate corrective actions were decided upon.

The committee has decided that a thorough investigation into what went wrong is necessary. In cases where there were deficiencies, all impacted beneficiaries must be fully compensated. Every beneficiary who was mistreated or victimized must receive a formal apology.

In order to enhance future implementation of the programme, the program should switch to a voucher system that will enable beneficiaries to select stocks that are appropriate for their businesses. A specialized team should be sent to visit each beneficiary and address any issues. The Committee will be presented with a comprehensive progress report.

Mndebele summarized the meeting’s results and emphasized that the committee’s top goal was to guarantee that people were empowered. 

“Our people must benefit from this program. Failures that jeopardize beneficiaries will not be accepted. To guarantee adequate assistance, training, and long-term expansion of spaza shops, the department must collaborate closely with municipalities, especially the Local Economic Development (LED) units. The committee will continue to exercise strict oversight to ensure accountability and that public resources deliver real economic benefit to communities,” continued Mndebele.

ISSUED BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE, MR MAFIKA MNDEBELE (0837835164)

Enquiries: Mr Bongani Tembe 0823272600

The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, led by Speaker Hon. Nontembeko Boyce and Deputy Speaker Hon. Mmabatho Tembe, convened the Annual Strategy and Performance Workshop at Brahman Hills on 24 and 25 March 2026.

This important session provides a platform to reflect, refine, and strengthen the institution’s strategic direction, with a clear focus on delivering its constitutional mandate. As the voice of the people, the Legislature plays a critical role in law-making, robust oversight of the Executive, and ensuring meaningful public participation in governance.

The session was attended by members of the KZN Legislature’s strategic leadership, the Chief Whip of the Official Opposition, Chief Whip of the Minority Party, and KZN Legislature Secretary, Ms. Nerusha Naidoo. The session also featured presentations by the House Chairperson of the National Assembly, Hon. C. Frolick, along with representatives from the legislative sector, institutions of higher learning, the National School of Government, and senior management.

Through this strategic session, the KZN Legislature is reaffirming its commitment to accountable, transparent, and responsive governance, placing public participation at the center of its work.

#KZNLegislature #kznmpls #parliament

1 2 ►

MEDIA ADVISORY
23 March 2026

KZN SCOPA ENGAGES WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY PERMANENT SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGES IN GOVERNMENT FLEET MANAGEMENT

A number of issues, including the acute lack of ambulances and police cars to serve communities, have been attributed to the RT46 transversal contract, which is intended to maintain, and oversee South African government vehicles.

To address reported operational bottlenecks and general discontent from government departments as well as the public, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) will host a stakeholder engagement session with important stakeholders tomorrow.

Commenting ahead of the engagement session, the SCOPA Chairman, Honourable Tim Brauteseth, said that among the concerns raised were chronic delays in fixing vehicles, which lead to a shortage of cars to service communities.
“We have high hopes for the success of our intervention. All pertinent parties, including MECs, the National Treasury, and the Westbank, which manages the RT46 transversal contract, have been invited,”

The stakeholder engagement meeting is scheduled as follows:
Date  : 24 March 2026
Venue: Main Chamber, KZN Legislature
Time  : 8 am

ISSUED BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, HONOURABLE TIM BRAUTESETH

#kznmpl
#kznlegislature
#kznhealth

MEDIA ADVISORY
23 March 2026

KZN MPLS START AN OUTREACH PROGRAM TO ASSESS THE SUCCESS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR SPAZA SHOPS

In February 2024, the Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) department launched the Zimele Traders Fund to offer financial assistance to spaza shops in KwaZulu-Natal.

The initiative was carried out by Ithala Development Finance Corporation and provided each spaza shop owner with a grant of R20 000 in the form of trading stock. A total budget of R10 million was set aside for this initiative, which aimed to reach 500 spaza shops throughout the province.

Members of the Economic Development and Tourism Portfolio Committee will visit tuckshops in the districts of Mkhanyakude, Ilembe, eThekwini, and Ugu this week to determine whether this ambitious initiative has served its intended purpose. The Honorable Mafika Mndebele, the committee chairman, will lead the legislative delegation.

Prior to the visits, Mr. Mndebele stated that his committee had chosen to use a Focused Intervention Study (FIS) to evaluate the spaza shops program’s execution.
“We will visit spaza shops in Jozini, Mandeni, Umzumbe, Umdoni, and eThekwini Municipality as part of the FIS. As the organization in charge of overseeing government agencies, we want to make sure that public funds have not been squandered and that spaza shops have benefited in any way,” Mndebele continued.

Members of the media are invited to report on all the visits which are scheduled as follows:

JOZNI MUNICIPALITY
Date : 24 March 2026
Sites: Amandlakagogo Retail tuck-shop at Hlalanathi, Gugs Tuck-shop ward 4 kwaJobe and Shukushukuma Tuck-shop ward 21.
Meeting point: Amandlakagogo Retail tuck-shop at 8 am

MANDENI MUNICIPALITY
Date: 24 March 2026
Sites: Mzomunye Tuckshop in Ward14, Nomthandazo Tuckshop in ward 7 and Kwashuuz Tuckshop in Ward 14.
Meeting point: Mzomunye Tuckshop in Ward14 at 2pm.

MZUMBE MUNICIPALITY
Date : 25 March 2026
Site  : Mandlethonga Tuckshop in Hlokozi
Time: 8am

MDONI MUNICIPALITY
Date  : 25 March 2026
Sites : KK Trading Tuckshop in Hazelwood and Mbhele Tuckshop in Mistake Farm
Time: 11 am

ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY
Date: 25 March 2026
Sites: Tholumuzi Supermarket at Adam’s College, Boys Tuckshop in Chesterville and Zone14 Tuckshop in Hammasdale
Meeting point: Tholumuzi Supermarket at 2pm

ISSUED BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE, MR MAFIKA MNDEBELE (0837835164)
Enquiries: Mr Bongani Tembe 0823272600

As a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the KZN Legislature held a special sitting on 19 March 2026 to debate the significance of Commonwealth Day which is celebrated on the second Monday of March annually.

18 March 2026

Media Advisory

The KZN Legislature’s Public Works Portfolio Committee, led by Chairperson Honourable PN Msimango, will conduct an oversight visit in the AmaJuba District on Friday the 20th of March to assess progress made in the construction and renovation of two public institutions.

The two projects to be visited are Newcastle Hospital and Celani Primary School.

• At Newcastle Hospital the project’s main aim was to upgrade the security measures, improve fire detection and prevention measures and convert the boiler to heat pumps.
• At Celani Primary School, the project’s aim was to build an entirely new school consisting of all facilities and amenities required for a fully functional school that provides a conducive teaching and learning environment.

Details of the oversight visit are as follows:

Date: 20 March 2026

Time: 9am

Venue: Department of Public Works and Infrastructure District
Offices in Newcastle

Immediately after the briefing at the district offices Committee Members will leave to visit the two sites.

Ends

Issued by KZN Legislature Communications Unit.

For more information and interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the Committee’s Communications Practitioner, Wonder Hlongwa at 0829083532

MEDIA STATEMENT
12 March 2026

TO ALL MEDIA
SUBJECT : CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE UNDERTAKES INSPECTIONS AT DIDIMA AND BUSINGA RETREAT LODGE

Tomorrow, 13 March 2026 the Portfolio Committee will follow up on progress regarding the implementation of two projects by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. The two projects are the Didima Thatching & Upgrades and Busingatha Retreat Lodge. The oversight exercise visit will focus specifically on construction progress, local beneficiation, and adherence to time frames including the challenges experienced during these upgrades.

The Committee noted that the upgrades were because of leaking units requiring regular roof re-thatching, windy conditions and baboons destroying the establishments’ thatched chalets. Chalets requiring both internal and external painting as they were last painted in the year 2002 and walls are now showing superficial cracks.

The R15 500 000 Busingatha project funded by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) needs R12 086 953,74 for phase 1 and the project is currently on hold due to unavailability of funds. Even though some work had started which has come to a stop now, the Committee noted that nearly 10 years with this project still incomplete with signs of poor workmanship.

The Chairperson of the Committee Hon B Sithole-Moloi invites the media to cover the oversight, and she will be available to take media interviews.

For enquiries:
Chairperson Portfolio Committee: Conservation & Environmental Affairs
KZN Legislature
Hon B Sithole- Moloi
060 560 2904
Wesley Canham
083 376 7299
Senior Practitioner: Media Liaison