City processes more than 4 000 spaza shop registration applications

The City of Johannesburg has processed 4 043 spaza shop registration applications across its seven regions as it steps up efforts to support township businesses and informal traders.

Executive Mayor Dada Morero said 39 beneficiaries had been approved through the Gauteng Spaza Shop Fund, in partnership with the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDFA).

The City has also issued more than 500 smart permit cards from over 2 000 cards that have been printed.

Morero was speaking at the Gauteng Spaza Shop and Informal Traders Summit & Expo 2026 at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto Campus.

He said the City would this year approve the Township Economy By-law, building on the 2022 Informal Trading Policy.

The Department of Economic Development said registration should not be confused with trading permit approval, but forms part of the formalisation and compliance process.