It is the ambition of the Gauteng Government to “convert townships from being places of consumption to becoming centres of production.” One of the instruments of this historic programme is, as you know, our very own Massmart, which will be providing 60% of stock to spazas in a pilot six townships. These spazas, in addition to going about the business of bringing groceries to where they’re needed, will be providing the necessary supplies for the feeding schemes of a total of 2,000 schools in the province. The challenge is of course keeping track of these retailers, and ensuring that only legal traders are benefiting from the largesse, something which the sometimes controversial Operational Fiela has been targeting.
Comment: Alexandra Township, a centre of resistance to apartheid, is the beneficiary of this project under which many of these retailers fall. It couldn’t happen to a nicer place.