Are Municipalities Fair to Local Start-up Businesses?

As South Africa prepares for the November local government elections, local entrepreneurs are asking an important question: Are municipalities creating a level playing field for local businesses, or are business by-laws being enforced inconsistently?

For some small business owners in Bizana, the answer is clear.

Foreign-owned spaza shops continue to fuel tensions in local communities, with local traders accusing the municipality and community leaders of failing to enforce regulations fairly while ignoring complaints about businesses operating in close proximity to existing local shops.

One of those entrepreneurs is Khanyisa Nkosiyane, who operated a spaza shop from 2021 until last year before eventually closing her business.