Informal convenience stores, or “spaza” shops as they are known, are where most South Africans buy the odd two-litre Coke or loaf of bread.
However, many unanswered questions remain about how these spaza shops operate, especially in Paarl East which, according to Raymond Joseph, chair of the Paarl East Community Policing Forum (CPF), has seen an increase in the past five years.
He explained it was difficult to give an accurate number the many shops had increased by, but within a 200 m radius of where he stayed in Klein Nederburg he could already count five spaza shops.
“I cannot say for sure if these shops are a front for illegal activity, but I do have a problem with their selling cigarettes to under-age children.
“I have also seen some illegal cigarettes being sold, those not approved and regulated by the correct tobacco bodies,” Joseph said.
He said an increase in the number of spaza shops is worrying because of the disregard for the law some of them have.
“Many do not worry about laws, but stay open past the hours shops within the certain neighbourhoods are legally permitted to.”
Another complication regarding spaza shops is their vulnerability to robberies which, according to the latest crime statistics, have escalated in Paarl.
“The owners of some of the shops also do not open cases with the local police because they are either in the country illegally or their spaza shops are also illegal.”
According to Joseph the owners rely on their own “networks” to bring perpetrators to justice, which is a problem in itself.
Furthermore, the owners of the spaza shops frequently reside at their shops, which are unhygienic due to lack of water and sanitation, such as toilets.
This can be dangerous for customers as they may contract viruses or bacteria.
He explained the increase in spaza shops is difficult to manage, and many role-players needed to work together, something that was not being done.
“The [Drakenstein] municipality has to regulate the spaza shops and make sure that what they do is legal, but there is a lack of law enforcement presence [within parts of Paarl East].”
One solution, according to Joseph, is for the local CPF, police station and municipality to work together to minimise the number of spaza shops and increase their legality.
According to Eda Barnard, Drakenstein Municipality’s executive director of public safety, there are currently 139 approved spaza shops in Drakenstein.
“To operate a spaza shop on a property a consent-use application is required in terms of the Drakenstein zoning scheme bylaw, in which input is obtained from neighbours, the ward councillor and chairperson of Drakenstein Municipality’s portfolio holder for planning.”
Additionally, she pointed out, there is a “home-shop policy” in place that stipulates opening hours, restrictions on the sale of certain goods and who may submit an application and operate the shop.
Barnard says monthly operations take place to ensure spaza shops are legal.
This, however, was in sharp contrast to what Joseph stated; who said not nearly enough operations were taking place to regulate home stores.
Capt Louise du Plessis, a spokesperson for Paarl police, and Leon Bester, chair of the Paarl CPF, said the neighbourhoods within the Paarl policing district had not seen an increase in spaza shops and generally did not receive complaints.
Col Johan Barkhuizen, spokesperson for Wellington police, stated that it is Drakenstein Municipality’s responsibility to regulate spaza shops and the police station would intervene only when arrests were to be made.
