# Concerns over immigration compliance and the regulation of foreign-owned spaza shops have resurfaced after Parliament revealed that only 33 business visas were approved in the 2025/26 financial year. The figure has intensified debate about how many foreign-owned township businesses are operating and whether they are properly regulated. Critics say enforcement gaps are being exposed in township economies. General Industries Workers’ Union’s Zaki Mamdoo argues the issue should not be reduced to migration alone but viewed within broader economic and regulatory challenges.
Foreign-owned spaza shops under scrutiny as business visa approvals drop to 33