* ‘Spaza’ means ‘hidden’ in Zulu.

Selling everyday small household items and services, Spaza shops grew as a result of restrictions that were placed on black people running businesses during the apartheid era in South Africa.  During this time many of these shops were established alongside or within people’s homes, in order to elude the authorities.

From being ‘hidden,’ and trading illegally and restricted these shops have since evolved into numerous entrepreneurial projects which include other locations and selling many other products and services. They have become a very special inseparable and colourful part of South African life.

They are a wonderful example of human industriousness and uBuntu.

Welcome to our uBuntu ‘Spaza shop’.