Cape Town: The Department of Small Business Development has issued a warning to spaza shop owners to be vigilant against individuals or organizations that claim to assist with the Spaza Shop Fund application process in exchange for a fee.
According to South African Government News Agency, the department highlighted that some of these individuals and associations falsely claim to have connections with the department or possess insider knowledge to guarantee application approval. The department emphasized that such claims are misleading, as all funding application processes are available on its official websites, and spaza shop owners do not need third-party assistance to complete the online application form. The public is directed to visit www.spazashopfund.co.za to register and apply.
The department reiterated that no official within the department handles the administration procedures related to processing payments for the support fund. Recently, the government launched the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund (SSSF) to assist entrepreneurs in establishing startups, expanding their businesses, and acquiring essential business skills to enhance their enterprises’ performance. The application process is managed exclusively by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) and only accepts online applications through www.spazashopfund.co.za.
The department clarified that social media platforms are not utilized for accepting applications and stated categorically that no official has been appointed to respond to applications via social media platforms or personal email addresses. Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) are urged to register their spaza shops at the nearest municipality offices to qualify for the support fund.
The public is advised to be cautious of red flags such as requests for upfront payments or administration fees to “guarantee” approval, promises of expedited application processing, and unsolicited offers to “help” with applications through phone, email, or social media. To protect themselves, applicants should only use the official portals: www.dsbd.gov.za, www.sedfa.org.za, and www.spazashopfund.co.za. Suspicious activities can be reported to the DSBD Hotline at 086 677 7867 or via email at info@dsbd.gov.za. Business owners are encouraged to remain vigilant, safeguard their businesses, and seek further information from the Department of Small Business Development’s official website or support hotline.