Lucky's Mfowethu Spaza

Lucky's Mfowethu Spaza in NU 5

There are at least 100.000 spaza shops in South Africa with an estimated 40.000 located in Gautend - with a collective turnover of R 7 billion per annum. Spaza Shops or Tuck Shops are informal convenience shops, usually run from home.

They also serve the purpose of supplementing household incomes of the owners, selling everyday small household items.

These shops grew as a result of sprawling townships, that made travel to formal shopping places more dirfficult or expensive.

Each Spaza shop employs in average one or two people.

Changing Boys To Men

We stopped on our way to NU 5 at the Esethu Shop. All over the township small trading stores called "Spaza shops" can be found. Of course you can also buy South Africa's most famous bread "Starbread" here which apparently changes boys into men. There is no corner in this country where Starbread can not be found.

The owner has diligently painted the companies advertising slogan on the wall with all the goods things his little shop has to offer.

On offer are among others goodies, samp, canned beans, tomato sauce, sugar, sausages, washing powder as well as airtime for you cellphone.

The Spaza shops are like your small grocery stores with friendly owners and stocked with only the most essential things but offering a convenient shopping experience at close distance to your home. In case you have forgotten something like a cigarette or sugar for your tea. Or if you just wanna go for a stroll and meet someone on the way.