Did you know?

Government has programmes that can fund township-based small businesses? Township and Rural Entrepreneurship programme (TREP) is a dedicated programme to transform and integrate opportunities in townships and rural areas into productive business ventures. The focus is to create platforms that provide the business support infrastructure and regulatory environment that enables entrepreneurs to thrive.

How to participate: Township or rural based entrepreneurs must apply for support including funding through the common application template from the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), the Small Enterprise Finance Agency, National Empowerment Fund (NEF), and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA). Owners of the business must be South African nationals.

Implementing Agencies: Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), Seda and sefa.

Medium Term Strategic Framework Intervention: Facilitate the increase in the number of competitive small businesses with a focus on township economies and rural development.

The following Schemes are available for qualifying entrepreneurs:

• Small-Scale Bakeries and confectioneries support programme
• Autobody repairers and mechanics support programme (as well as small and independent auto-spares shops and informal automotive entrepreneurs)
• Butcheries support programme
• Clothing, leather, and textiles support programme
• Personal care support programme
• Spaza-shop support programme
• Tshisanyama and cooked food support programme.

How to apply

• Register on https://smmesa.gov.za/ and complete the information required. Once complete, you will receive an email with your unique smmesa.gov.za reference number.
• Applications can also be submitted to trep@sefa.org.za should there be difficulties with the portal.