Bheki Twala calls for clear reasons for rejected applications for the R500 million Spaza Support Fund.

The Department of Small Business Development and Trade, Industry and Competition will today outline the implementation of the R500 million Spaza Support Fund. Recently, the fund has faced calls for transparency from civil society groups like the Township Economic Commission of South Africa (TECSA). They are demanding accountability regarding application processing speeds and exact disbursement figures. The fund was launched in April 2025 by the Ministers of Small Business Development (DSBD) and Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), to support South African owned community convenience shops, including spaza shops, to increase their participation in the township and rural areas' retail trade sector. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to founder and president of Township Economic Commission SA (TECSA) and Executive Director of SA Spaza, Bheki Twala....