Latest news with #Sedfa
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Spaza Shop Support Fund campaign goes to Mpumalanga
The national awareness campaign on the Spaza Shop Support Fund is today in Volksrust, Mpumalanga. Township-based entrepreneurs in the area will have an opportunity to engage directly with government and its partners on how to access vital support to grow and sustain their businesses. Led by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the DTIC) and the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), the ongoing campaign forms part of a national drive to raise awareness about available support for spaza shops and township convenience stores. It aims to close information gaps and bring services closer to communities. Following successful stops in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West, the Free State, and the Northern Cape, this leg targets entrepreneurs and spaza shop owners in the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Ka Seme Local Municipality and surrounding areas, who are often underserved but play a vital role in the local economy. At the centre of the campaign is the R500m Spaza Shop Support Fund, launched by Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau and Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni, in April 2025. The fund is administered by the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (Sedfa) and the National Empowerment Fund (Nef) agencies of the DSBD and the DTIC, respectively. Attendees in Volksrust will receive detailed guidance on how to apply for financial and non-financial assistance, including: - Access to affordable stock through delivery partners. - Infrastructure upgrades such as shelving, refrigeration and security. - Point-of-sale devices. - Business training on compliance, digital literacy, credit health and food safety. - Market access support through partnerships with black industrialists and local manufacturers. 'The initiative aims to boost the competitiveness of township businesses and foster inclusive economic participation by bringing more informal retailers into the broader retail value chain,' the dtic said in a statement. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
21-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: JSE expands SME Rise Initiative with UK partnership and national roadshows
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is ramping up its efforts to empower South African SMEs through the expansion of its flagship SME Rise Initiative, which continues to foster collaboration between the public and private sectors. Through partnerships with the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (Sedfa) and the UK-SA Tech Hub, the JSE is scaling up the reach of two key SME Rise programmes in 2025: the Capital Matching Roadshow and the Enterprise Acceleration Programme. 'The SME Rise initiative has proven to be a powerful catalyst for unlocking opportunities for SMEs,' said Vuyo Lee, director of marketing and corporate affairs at the JSE. 'Our partnerships are crucial to ensuring that more SMEs get the tools and support they need to grow, create jobs, and contribute meaningfully to our economy.' In 2024, the Capital Matching Roadshow reached over 400 SMEs in the Eastern Cape, Free State, and Western Cape—connecting them with potential investors. The programme, developed with support from Sedfa, provincial development agencies, and government partners, will expand to Gauteng and Limpopo in 2025. 'Our collaboration with the JSE underscores the importance of joint efforts to build sustainable solutions for SMEs,' said Nkosikhona Mbatha, acting CEO of Sedfa. JSE Enterprise Acceleration Programme In a parallel track, the JSE Enterprise Acceleration Programme, now in its fourth year, is launching its 2025 cohort in partnership with the UK-SA Tech Hub. The initiative targets high-growth, tech-enabled companies and includes a 12-month programme covering acceleration, investor readiness, and market expansion. 'This partnership opens the door for South African SMEs to gain global visibility and access to international markets,' said Lee. Over 50 businesses have already benefitted from the programme, which includes mentoring, workshops, and access to global networks. The UK-SA Tech Hub's support aligns with the UK government's commitment to inclusive digital growth and startup support in South Africa. 'Our aim is to equip startups with the tools to secure capital and grow sustainably,' said Milisa Mabinza, director of the UK-SA Tech Hub. JSE Private Placements (JPP) continues to play a key role by offering SMEs a digital platform for fundraising, while alumni-led initiatives like the Mamela Luthuli Foundation will provide expert-led workshops and targeted investor engagements for the 2025 cohort. The SME Rise initiative takes a holistic approach to SME development, with programmes covering red tape reduction, early-stage funding readiness, and international market expansion—creating a full ecosystem for growth. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
04-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
New $27mln fund launched to support South Africa's spaza shops
Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni has announced the creation of an R500m Spaza Shop Support Fund that aims to enhance market competitiveness and help spaza shops and food handling outlets compete with larger retailers. Addressing media in Pretoria on Sunday, the minister said the fund will be launched soon and will support township convenience shops, including spaza stores. 'The fund will be launched in the next two weeks and a date will be communicated,' she said, adding that the fund will comprise funds from the Department of Small Business Development (R150m) and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (R350m ). The minister made the announcement at the briefing that followed the close of the registration period for spaza shops and food-handling businesses to register their businesses with their local municipalities on 28 February. She said other businesses will still benefit from existing departmental funds and programmes, including financial assistance by the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (Sedfa) and other development finance institutions (DFIs). The fund aims to achieve economies of scale by linking spaza shops and food handling outlets to buying groups for bulk purchasing; build business capacity through training and support to improve shop operations; enhance market competitiveness to help spaza shops and food handling outlets compete with larger retailers. 'We are planning to roll out a multi-disciplinary outreach programme. The purpose of the outreach program is to bring government services closer to the people through disseminating information on community convenience shops and support offerings. 'We will continue to do these things with provincial and local government and will facilitate awareness campaigns in all 52 districts and metros across the country. The awareness campaigns are scheduled to take place from 3 March 2025 to 30 March 2025.' The awareness campaigns will continue beyond the month of March and the awareness workshops will be facilitated by district champions, Sedfa and business regulation officers. She said that the Department of Small Business Development has recruited 61 business regulation officers on six-month contracts, each assigned to a District or Metro across the country. 'These officers will be responsible for conducting awareness campaigns, research, and geo-mapping of spaza shops and food-handling facilities among other functions.' Regulation The minister further added that the country's regulatory environment needs to be streamlined, and the department has embarked on a Red Tape Reduction Program to include practical solutions. 'As a key strategic intervention to support the red tape reduction efforts, the department will ensure that municipalities are assisted with e-registration systems. We remain committed as government to streamline business licensing in South Africa, reduce regulatory burdens, and foster an environment conducive to entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation. 'Our amended National Business Licensing Bill, once approved and implemented, will provide clarity, consistency, and transparency in business licensing, enabling businesses to thrive and contribute to the country's economic growth and development,' she explained. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
