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On my Germiston campaign tour today, I spoke directly with South African Spaza Shop owners who are building thriving businesses despite the odds. One thing is undeniable; South Africans are demanding to take back ownership of their township economy.

Businesses like Monice Grill Heart, Leondale Cellular Internet Café, Something Meaty, Myeza Fast Food and Tshabalala Tuck Shop are proof that South Africans are still in the fight. Even after losing ground in the spaza sector, our people have the hunger and determination to take back control of our local economy.

This is not empty rhetoric. The demand to reserve the spaza shop sector for South Africans is being driven by South African business owners themselves. Right now, the playing field is rigged, and South Africans are being pushed out of their own communities. Government must step in and regulate this sector to level the playing field and put South African businesses first.

I have heard too many horrifying accounts of South African entrepreneurs being threatened and forced out of business in their own country and this cannot stand. No South African should live in fear of opening a business or be forced to spend their profits on security just because foreign nationals are trying to monopolize the spaza shop sector.

ActionSA has taken the fight to Parliament through the #Spaza4Locals Reserved Sectors Bill, demanding legislation that eradicates foreign ownership of spaza shops and secures 100% of these businesses for South Africans.

For ActionSA, this is not just policy, it is a national mission to build a fair and prosperous South Africa where the township economy works for South Africans first.

When I take office as mayor this November, cleaning up the spaza sector will be non-negotiable. My first order will be a full audit of every foreign-owned spaza shop in Ekurhuleni.

If we find South Africans who sold their identities and committed fraud to front these businesses, they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We will not allow our township economy to be captured through fake certificates and corrupt shortcuts.

Issued by ActionSA