At the recent Evidence-Based Policing South Africa Conference in Cape Town, Dr Guy Lamb, a researcher from Stellenbosch University, presented his study on the policing of spaza shops in South Africa, shedding light on the complex dynamics of crime, regulation and community relations within this vital yet volatile sector.

The study, conducted in 2019 as part of a follow-up project to a 2015-2016 study on xenophobia, explores how spaza shops have become key sites of violence, especially xenophobic attacks, and highlights the ongoing challenges facing immigrant shop owners in South African townships.

Lamb explained that it was important to note that he was focusing on policing, not on police work. Traditionally, he pointed out, the regulation of spaza shops has been the responsibility of local government, not the police. He argued that much of the sector’s current crisis can be traced to the failure of local authorities to enforce adequate regulation and oversight.

Spaza shops, informal businesses often run by immigrant entrepreneurs, are critical to the economy of South Africa’s townships, yet they are plagued by numerous challenges. Lamb’s research, conducted across several provinces, including the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, revealed that while these shops are crucial economic hubs, they are also sites of significant insecurity and violence.

Spaza shops are a major component of the South African township and informal economies, but they are inadequately regulated, which contributes to issues like contaminated food and extortion, Lamb stated.

The study found that the spaza shop sector is increasingly dominated by Somali and Ethiopian immigrants, many of whom are undocumented, making them vulnerable to criminal activity and xenophobic hostility.

One of the most concerning findings of Lamb’s study is the prevalence of extortion within the spaza shop sector. Criminal organisations often target immigrant-run shops, demanding money in exchange for protection from theft or violence.

“The vulnerability of these particular shops, shaken down by protection rackets by criminal organisations” has become a major issue of concern, Lamb said, noting that the extortion of immigrant business owners has been ongoing for years and is now emerging as a key component of South Africa’s broader extortion crisis.

However, he added: “Criminal networks were used by certain spaza shop owners to eliminate competition in their particular area as well.”

In addition to the role of criminal organizations, the research also identified several informal policing actors that play a significant role in the sector. These include community or business forums, elders, religious leaders and even taxi associations, all of which help manage conflicts within the sector. Spaza shop owners and managers often come together in alliances or organisations to support each other. In areas with significant Somali or Ethiopian populations, clan leaders and elders have played a key role in mediating disputes. These informal mechanisms often fill the gaps left by the police, particularly in communities where law enforcement is absent or distrusted.

Despite these efforts, Lamb pointed out a major barrier to effective policing: the lack of trust between spaza shop owners and the police. Many immigrant shop owners are reluctant to report crimes due to fears of deportation or mistreatment.

“Spaza shop owners often don’t report crime to the police. Their legal status in the country often prevents them from doing so,” Lamb explained. The study revealed that even when crimes are reported, the police response is often inadequate, which only deepens the mistrust between immigrant shop owners and law enforcement.

The study also revealed various informal regulations and strategies used by community groups and other actors to manage the spaza shop sector. These strategies often involve a mix of cooperation and exclusion. For example, some communities have implemented rules to limit the expansion of spaza shops, particularly those run by foreign nationals. In certain areas, new shops can only be established if they are at least 100 meters away from existing ones, and preference is often given to South African shop owners. In areas with high tension, foreign nationals are sometimes pressured to leave or face violence.

“The strategies are often informed by othering or xenophobia, and policing is influenced by the extent to which shop owners are considered part of the community,” Lamb explained.

Lamb’s research highlighted the need for a more comprehensive and collaborative approach to policing in South Africa’s townships, one that involves not just the police but also a range of other actors.

Policing is not just about the police, Lamb says, it’s about how various actors within the community can come together to manage security and promote stability.

The ongoing crisis of crime and violence in the spaza shop sector shows no signs of abating unless these deeper issues of regulation, trust and community cooperation are addressed.