No permit, no spaza: KZN cracks down on undocumented shop owners

Cape Town –The KwaZulu‑Natal provincial government has announced an intensified crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals operating spaza shops, pledging to take over stores run without legal permits and create more opportunities for South African business owners.

Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli made the remarks on Tuesday, 11 February 2026, while leading a multidisciplinary law‑enforcement operation in Richards Bay targeting spaza shops and other informal businesses to check regulatory compliance.

According to Ntuli, the majority of smaller shops in the area are owned by undocumented foreign nationals who do not have the necessary permits to trade legally, and he linked this to adverse economic effects on local producers and job creation.

“Those who are owning shops, especially those smaller shops which are owned by foreign nationals, you’ll find that some of them don’t have permits,” the premier said.

Ntuli told reporters the sale of illicit and unregulated goods — often attributed to traders without documentation — has made it harder for South African producers and shop owners to compete.

“You’ll find that those who are producing here in our province or country end up shutting down, which then affects the job opportunities and affects our economy,” he added.

[WATCH] KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli says their aim is to ensure that no undocumented foreign nationals run businesses in the province because that affects the local economy while the sale of
Illicit goods also risk people’s health. @_NMabaso pic.twitter.com/16gt16hu5d

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 10, 2026

Provincial officials said they would not back down in their efforts to address undocumented foreign national activity, stressing that illegal entry into the country carries consequences.

“When you come to South Africa without a permit, you must know that it is illegal, you’ll be arrested — that is the intention for us to do these operations,” Ntuli said, signalling that future raids will target other shops and even undocumented drivers.

The move taps into a broader national effort to regulate the informal economy and ensure compliance with business, immigration and safety laws. In Gauteng, authorities have previously shut down hundreds of unregistered spaza shops as part of similar regulatory drives, with officials emphasising that businesses must meet safety and legal standards to operate.

Our very own citizens are helping foreign nationals operate spaza shops and warehouses. This shop’s operating certificates are registered in the name of a South African woman but the business is owned and operated by foreign nationals.@CityTshwane pic.twitter.com/vHVyrqzkbQ

— Dr Nasiphi Moya (@nasiphim) November 12, 2025