South Africa: Spaza Fund Faces Scrutiny - South African News Briefs - August 17, 2026

Spaza Fund Faces Scrutiny The Department of Small Business Development is set to provide an update on the rollout of the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund, reports EWN. This comes after concerns over application verification, administration and possible misuse. The fund was introduced to support qualifying South African-owned spaza shops with stock, business improvements and compliance following foodborne illness incidents. However, verification has uncovered untraceable businesses and ownership discrepancies, raising questions about controls and whether the money is reaching the intended beneficiaries. Matlala Takes Stand at Madlanga Commission Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is set to hear testimony from alleged cartel kingpi