South Africa, April 1 -- The new digital platforms went live on 28 March 2025, following the announcement by Small Business Development Minister, Stella Ndabeni.

DSBD Connect is a digital platform designed to geo-map and support spaza shops and other food-handling facilities, while addressing the proliferation of illegal businesses across South Africa

The department said DSBD Connect will function as a comprehensive digital platform, offering:

* A verified database of spaza shops and food-handling facilities in the country.

* Robust business and product authentication processes.

* Facilitation of partnerships with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

* Access to funding and credit opportunities for small enterprises.

"This init...