Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has stirred controversy with his recent social media comments, accusing foreign nationals operating spaza shops in South African townships of selling harmful products.
Story Summary:
- Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie accused spaza shop owners, mainly foreign nationals, of selling harmful products to South Africans in a tweet.
- McKenzie’s comments have been criticised for encouraging xenophobic sentiments and remain unsubstantiated.
- The government’s recent white paper on immigration proposes strict regulations for spaza shops, including registration and compliance with health standards.
Gayton McKenzie on spaza shops: ‘Our people are being fed slow poison’
The remarks, which lack statistical backing, come at a time when tensions around immigration and informal trade are already high in the country.
In his tweet, McKenzie claimed:
“Our people are being fed slow poison by these illegal shop owners, first they demolished local ownership, now they are selling poisonous illegally made products.”
He further stated, “We are in the process of making sure the laws of South Africa are followed. We are tired.”
These remarks are directed at the widespread presence of foreign nationals in South Africa’s informal retail sector, specifically spaza shops—small convenience stores found predominantly in townships.
The minister’s comments feed into a long-running narrative that blames immigrants for displacing local business owners, often without providing evidence.
McKenzie’s controversial statements come as the South African government is finalising regulations aimed at tightening controls on the spaza shop industry.
The white paper on citizenship, immigration, and refugee protection was approved in April 2024, with plans to audit all spaza shops and ensure they register to pay taxes.
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi previously outlined the framework:
“We want spaza shops audited. We want the owners to come forward and the spaza shop to be registered. If you don’t have documentation, we will obviously have the spaza shop closed.”
These measures are designed to formalise the sector and regulate the standards of food safety, sanitation, and health requirements.
Spaza shops are an integral part of the township economy, providing essential goods to millions of South Africans.
These small, often family-run businesses are typically found in densely populated urban areas, and they have become a significant source of employment for both locals and immigrants.
Estimates suggest that there are over 100,000 spaza shops in South Africa, with a growing number being run by foreign nationals, especially from countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh.
While some South Africans view the influx of immigrant-run spazas as competition, others recognise their role in making affordable products available in underserved communities.
