Owner's understanding of financial information used in the decision-making of managing spaza shops in the Seshego township and surrounding areas

Abstract

This research explored how spaza shop owners in Seshego Township and surrounding areas use and interpret financial information when making business decisions. Previous studies provide limited insight into how owners of these micro-enterprises understand and use financial information in managing their businesses. Limited financial knowledge may affect decision-making and, in turn, business sustainability. A qualitative research approach was adopted, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 20 spaza shop owners who were actively involved in the day-to-day management of their spaza shops. Due to the absence of a formal database, a walk-through census was conducted to identify and map spaza shops within Seshego Township and surrounding areas. The findings indicate that business decisions are mainly informed by owners’ experience, daily business observations, and basic financial information obtained from sales, cash flow, profit, and stock movement. The study further found that financial knowledge, record-keeping practices, and personal accountability influence how owners manage their businesses and make day-to-day operational decisions. The findings contribute to a better understanding of how financial information is used in township-based micro-enterprises and highlight the importance of improving financial literacy and financial management capabilities among spaza shop owners. The study also provides practical insights for policymakers, support organisations, and financial service providers seeking to improve the sustainability and performance of informal businesses.

Nyakišišo ye e lekodišišitše kamoo beng ba mabenkele a spaza ka Motseselegaeng wa Seshego le mafelong a o dikologilego ba dirišago le go hlatholla tshedimošo ya ditšhelete ge ba tšea diphetho tša kgwebo. Dinyakišišo tša nakong e fetilego di file kwešišo ye e lekanyeditšwego mabapi le kamoo beng ba dikgwebo tše nnyane ba kwešišago le go diriša tshedimošo ya ditšhelete ge ba laola dikgwebo tša bona. Kgaello ya tsebo ya ditšhelete e ka ama mokgwa wa go tšea diphetho, gomme se sa ba le khuetšo go tšwelelopele le go tšwela pele ga kgwebo. Mokgwa wa nyakišišo wa boleng o dirišitšwe, gomme datha e kgobokeditšwe ka dipoledišano tša sebopego sa go se tiee le beng-balaodi ba 20 ba mabenkele a spaza bao ba bego ba tšea karolo ka mafolofolo mo tshepedišong ya letšatši ka letšatši ya dikgwebo tša bona. Ka lebaka la go hloka polokelo ya semmušo ya datha, go dirilwe palo ya go sepela-sepela bakeng sa go hlaola le go dira mmapa wa mabenkele a spaza ka Motseselegaeng wa Seshego le mafelong a o dikologilego. Dipoelo tša nyakišišo di bontšhitše gore diphetho tša kgwebo di laolwa kudu ke maitemogelo a beng ba dikgwebo, tlhokomelo ya mediro ya kgwebo ya letšatši ka letšatši, le tshedimošo ya motheo ya ditšhelete yeo e hwetšwago go tšwa thekišong, go elela ga tšhelete, poelo le motsamao wa setoko. Nyakišišo e tšwetše pele ya hwetša gore tsebo ya ditšhelete, mekgwa ya go boloka direkhoto le boikarabelo bja motho ka noši di na le khuetšo mo mokgweng woo beng ba dikgwebo ba laolago dikgwebo tša bona le go tšea diphetho tša tshepedišo ya letšatši ka letšatši. Dipoelo tše di tlaleletša kwešišong ye kaone ya kamoo tshedimošo ya ditšhelete e dirišwago ka gona ka gare ga dikgwebo tše nnyane tša metseselegae gomme di gatelela bohlokwa bja go kaonafatša tsebo ya ditšhelete le bokgoni bja taolo ya ditšhelete gare ga beng ba mabenkele a spaza. Nyakišišo ye gape e fa temogo ya bohlokwa go batšweletši ba melawana, mekgatlo ya thekgo le baabi ba ditirelo tša ditšhelete bao ba nyakago go kaonafatša tšwelelopele le tshepedišo ya dikgwebo tšeo di sego tša semmušo.