Joburg launches outreach drive to help spaza shops access R500 million fund
The City of Johannesburg, in partnership with the Department of Small Business Development, has launched a series of outreach sessions aimed at helping spaza shop owners
The City of Johannesburg, in partnership with the Department of Small Business Development, has launched a series of outreach sessions aimed at helping spaza shop owners access the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund.
Initially announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in November 2024, the fund is administered by the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) and the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDA) and aims to support township businesses, including spaza shops and convenience stores, through a mix of grants and interest-free loans.
IOL previously reported that the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development has expressed frustration over the limited progress in approving applications for the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund, with fewer than 400 out of more than 3,200 submissions being processed since the fund was introduced in April.
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