SA needs to respect informal economy

Spaza shops have become one of the country’s most reliable survival systems

- NANCY DUSANI

Spaza shops help to create income, support families and reduce hunger in communities

(Gallo Images)

When South Africans speak about the economy, the conversation usually centres around big corporations, the JSE, investment summits, and political promises about job creation.

Yet for millions of ordinary citizens, the real economy is not found in Sandton boardrooms or government conferences. It is found in township streets, crowded taxi ranks, and small neighbourhood spaza shops that keep communities going every single day.

In many parts of South Africa, spaza shops have quietly become one of the country’s most reliable survival systems.