Community Libraries in Gauteng

Spaza shops are small, informal retail shops found in South African townships. They sell basic groceries and household goods to the local community and play an important role in the informal economy.

Thamie Mzamane is creating community libraries attached to these spaza shops through his Books@theCorner initiative. This makes it easier for children in the community to access books and read regularly. This approach also helps improve business for the spaza shops.

ABCA are happy to have provided books for two spaza shops.

Lebo's Spaza shop, Monaheng Section, Katlehong

Thamie’s feedback:

Lebo's business was thriving before COVID lockdowns and was a community hub where children from the neighbourhood would come and play video games and buy a multitude of snacks. Living hand to mouth, Lebo had to start from scratch and has been exasperated trying to get his business back to where it was. He had been struggling to find something that will bring his clientele back and rekindle that community engagement that once brough him success. He says the Books@theCorner initiative with the donation from ABCA is just what he needs to kickstart the value-added factor that his spaza shop always brought to the community.

Eden Park Market, Ekhurhuleni

Thamie’s feedback:

Unfortunately, I was not able to meet up with the owner today, but these are photos of her manager, Lehlohonolo and her grandson, Xaviano (an avid reader of books).

Eden Park Market was part of a Pick n Pay initiative to bring their brand into the townships, however this initiative did not succeed and left over 60 similar franchise owners in huge debt.

The owner, Ms Africa, is so happy and sees the Books@theCorner initiative as a driver that will bring kids and parents alike from her neighbourhood back into the store and resurrect the bond that she once enjoyed with her neighbours.

December 2025