North West Budget to go towards gearing up township economies, MEC Bitsa Lenkopane says

Simon Nare

North West MEC for Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism Bitsa Lenkopane is on a mission to make sure that any entrepreneur with a desire to run a spaza shop has access to one.

Lenkopane said she wants to ensure that anyone who wants to have a spaza shop in their yard does not have an excuse to complain that foreign nationals were thriving in this sector in townships ahead of the locals.

The MEC has stressed that the move should not be seen as an attempt by her government to flush out foreign nationals out of business but rather it is designed to empower the locals.

Lenkopane said things have to change in townships in terms of business and for that to happen, the municipalities would have to identify the need and respond positively.

The MEC was speaking ahead of her budget speech expected to be tabled on