A committee managing the R57 million Spaza Shop Support Fund says the programme has disbursed funds to qualifying South African citizens and that no payments went to foreign-owned shops. The committee’s position addresses concerns about how the money is allocated and who benefits from the support scheme.
The IOL report focuses on the committee’s response to allegations that the fund might have paid foreign-owned businesses. According to the committee, the disbursements meet the programme’s eligibility requirements, and therefore do not include payments to foreign-owned shops. Other elements of the story—such as the broader timeline of the fund, the application and verification process, or any independent review—are not detailed in the provided material.
Overall, the available source emphasizes the committee’s assertion that the R57 million is distributed according to eligibility rules for South African citizens, directly contesting claims of foreign beneficiaries.
