Cllr Stanley Peterson Battles Non-Compliant Spaza Shops Selling Illegal Alcohol
Prof. Cllr Stanley Peterson, Speaker of the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality in Upington, Northern Cape, and Senior Traditional Leader and King of the Griqua Nation of South Africa, has raised urgent concerns about the growing violations of municipal by-laws by foreign-owned spaza shops, commonly known as tuck-shops, operating in local communities. His recent oversight visits have sparked a national debate, amassing more than 3 million views on social media and drawing widespread attention to what he calls a “crisis of non-compliance and community safety.”
Between 8 and 15 August 2025, Peterson personally conducted oversight visits to tuck-shops across Dawid Kruiper Municipality, one of the five municipalities under ZF Mgcawu District. The others include Kheis, Kai! Garib, Kgatelopele, and Tsantsabane Municipalities, all governed under strict municipal by-laws regulating business operations.
These by-laws stipulate that tuck-shops and small businesses must be formally registered with the Local Economic Development (LED) office, compliant with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), SARS, and operating with approved building plans. Yet, according to Peterson, these laws are being widely ignored.
Undercover Investigation
Acting on community complaints that spaza shops were illegally selling alcohol, often to underage children, Peterson embarked on an undercover mission. Using his own money, he purchased alcohol from more than 10 shops owned primarily by members of the Ethiopian community. What he discovered confirmed the worst fears: widespread, illegal sale of liquor without licenses.
“The only thing they are worried about is making money,” Peterson said, expressing his frustration with foreign shop owners who disregard municipal by-laws. “They must be compliant to the law.”
The Speaker wasted no time in reporting his findings to SAPS, local municipal LED offices, and relevant authorities. He also shared the evidence on social media, which rapidly went viral, sparking a wave of outrage and support from citizens across the nation.
Meeting with Foreign Shop Owners
On 15 August 2025, Peterson convened a high-level meeting at the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality Chambers. Present were over 12 Ethiopian community leaders and shop owners, representing more than 300 businesses across the district.
Peterson made his intentions clear: his oversight was not driven by xenophobia or hatred towards foreign nationals, but by a duty to uphold the law and protect communities. “People asked why I am being so nice to them, why I don’t just chase them out,” he explained. “But I said, let’s give them a chance to correct things and warn them, which I did.”
Tragic Case Strikes Amid Crisis
Just days before the meeting, tragedy struck. A 16-year-old mother of a month-old baby was brutally raped and murdered inside one of these shops. According to reports, two Zimbabwean nationals and one Ethiopian suspect fled the scene, abandoning the shop.
For Peterson, the case highlights the urgent danger that unchecked non-compliance poses to vulnerable youth. “Our children are not going to school. They hang around these shops and are misused, especially our young girls,” he said. “South Africans are expected to abide by the law and foreigners must too.”
Call for Safe, Law-Abiding Communities
Peterson’s oversight mission is not merely about enforcing compliance, it is about restoring dignity, safety, and accountability. He believes municipalities must act firmly to protect children, uphold by-laws, and create safe environments for communities.
“90% of foreigners are not adhering to our South African laws and municipal by-laws,” Peterson asserted. “We must protect our children and communities and create a society where the law applies equally to all.”
As the nation debates the balance between foreign entrepreneurship, community safety, and the rule of law, Peterson’s actions have ignited a broader conversation: how can South Africa ensure accountability without fuelling xenophobia? His approach is one of firm enforcement coupled with dialogue, suggesting that leadership rooted in fairness and responsibility may offer a path forward.
For now, his message is clear: law and safety are non-negotiable, and oversight will continue until every child and community member can live without fear in their own neighbourhoods.
