By Charmaine Ndlela
The City of Johannesburg will on Tuesday, 17 March 2026, launch the Gauteng Spaza Shop and Informal Traders Summit and Expo.
The initiative is a joint effort led by the City’s Department of Economic Development and Business Culture and is aimed at supporting South African-owned spaza shops and informal traders.
According to the City, the launch marks a significant step towards strengthening the informal economy by creating a platform for engagement, learning and collaboration among spaza shop owners and informal traders.
As part of its broader efforts to combat unemployment and support small businesses, the City rolled out a R500 million Spaza Shop Fund in Soweto on 8 April 2025. The fund provides both financial and non-financial support to small township and rural enterprises.
The upcoming summit is expected to foster collaboration among business owners, offer networking opportunities and facilitate discussions on key issues aimed at uplifting small businesses and strengthening local economies.
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