KZN MPLS Start An Outreach Program To Assess The Success Of Financial Support For Spaza Shops
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
