Spaza shop

Spaza shop in Joe Slovo Park, Cape Town

A spaza shop is an informal convenience shop business in South Africa, usually run from home.[1] They also serve the purpose of supplementing household incomes of the owners, selling everyday small household items. These shops grew as a result of sprawling townships that made travel to formal shopping places more difficult or expensive.[2] Somalis in South Africa are especially noted for running spaza shops in black townships.[3]

South African banks are trying to win spaza shops as "bank shops" offering minimal banking services at lower costs than full bank branch offices. The link to the bank's back office is mostly via mobile phone based mobile banking.[4]

References

  1. Spazanews.co.za Welcome page
  2. Claire Bisseker (2006-09-28). "Retailers' drive into the township market threatens spaza shops". Financial Mail; BDFM Publishers (Pty) Ltd. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  3. "African migration: To the land of good hope: African migrants head south as well as north". The Economist. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  4. "Standard sees big target at the lower end". MobileMoneyAfrica. 23 April 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
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