Jabulile Mbatha18 November 2024 | 10:49

Operation Dudula wants only South Africans running spaza shops

On Monday, Operation Dudula members turned away foreign business owners who want to register their spaza shops with the municipality.

Operation Dudula wants only South Africans running spaza shops

FILE: A spaza shop. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/Eyewitness News

JOHANNESBURG - Operation Dudula members are turning away foreign business owners who want to register their spaza shops with the municipality. 

Members of the group picketed outside municipal offices in Jabulani in Soweto on Monday. 

On Friday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that spaza shop owners have 21 days to register their shops to avoid closure. 

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Operation Dudula’s president, Zandile Dabula, said they no longer want foreign nationals running spaza shops.

“Basically it’s a demonstration that we no longer want these people. They can’t even register. We don’t want them to register their spaza shops. This space must be reserved for South Africans.”