Durban – The ANC eThekwini Region says it is taking a firm stance against undocumented foreign nationals operating spaza shops and other informal businesses in the metro.
Following its first Regional Task Team meeting, the ANC said the issue of informal trading and competition for economic opportunities in townships was discussed, with concerns raised by local residents about access to business opportunities.
The organisation argued that South Africa’s democratic policies have made the country attractive for trade, but have also led to an influx of undocumented migrants, creating tensions in some communities.
The ANC eThekwini Region has called on the municipality and government structures to intensify enforcement against illegal trading activity, including closing down spaza shops allegedly owned by undocumented foreign nationals and ensuring those found operating illegally are processed through immigration laws.
It also proposed the creation of a Spaza Shop Fund to support locally owned township businesses, with a focus on youth empowerment and excluding politically connected individuals.
The region says it will also engage civil society groups involved in informal trading to help develop a coordinated approach to the sector.
