Spaza shops are small, informal grocery stores primarily located in South African townships. They serve as crucial access points for food and household necessities in these communities.
The term “spaza,” derived from isiZulu meaning “hidden,” reflects their historical context during the Apartheid era when Black South Africans faced restrictions on business ownership.
These shops emerged as essential providers of daily necessities, often operating without formal recognition until legal reforms allowed them to register and operate openly in the late 1980s.
