• ActionSA chairman Herman Mashaba has called for the closure of foreign-owned Spaza stores to prevent further deaths
• This was after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi revealed that 23 people had died from food poisoning incidents since October 2024.
• Some South Africans agreed, while others fiercely debated and questioned his statements.

Tebogo Mokwena, a dedicated In brief News current affairs journalist, contributed to the coverage of international and local social issues such as health, corruption, education, unemployment, labor, service delivery protests and heritage in South Africa during of his seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Economic news.

DURBAN, KZN — ActionSA Leader Herman Mashaba called for the closure of foreign-owned spaza shops.

Mashaba calls for Spaza store to close

Mashaba was said to be speaking during her visit to Spaza stores in Siyanda, north of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal. He also called for the deployment of the army raid Spaza stores owned by illegal foreign nationals throughout the country. Mashaba claimed that some of the illegal aliens are armed with weapons smuggled into the country.

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Mashaba also called for the constitution to be amended to prevent foreign nationals from owning spaza shops. His call came after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced that 23 people died since October 2024 after allegedly eating food bought in spaza stores.

SA Debates

Internet users on Facebook were on different sides of the spectrum.

Some agreed

The puppies said:

“I fully support Mashaba.”

Séké Ralepelle said:

“Mashaba is 100% right.”

Nolwandle Nolly Zuma said:

“Cyril won’t be happy to hear that. I still remember a video of him congratulating a stranger for running a spaza shop.”

Others disagreed

Seun Godfrey said:

“At least these spaza shop owners aren’t taking our jobs. You can’t see them in warehouses or factories asking for work.”

Seruli Yunusu said:

“Stop confusing people by telling them that it’s foreign spaza shops that are causing children to die.”

Diansangu Lukengo said:

“It’s shameful to see a person of his caliber thinking like a child.”

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Gayton McKenzie calls for Spaza store to close

In a related article, In brief News reported that the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, had requested foreign-owned spaza shops will be closed.

He said undocumented foreigners owning Spaza stores should also be arrested and deported.

Source: In Brief News