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Mandela Day 2022

Nelson Mandela once said, “It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.” These words became a reality when MEC of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Mr Abraham Vosloo took time to celebrate Mandela Day with senior citizens and handed over blankets, gift packs and dignitary packs in Vredesvellaie, Reimvaasmak and in Pabalello (Upington), to live up to the spirit of ‘Ubuntu’ which is characterised by warmth and kindness.

On the 18 of July South Africa and the world celebrates former President Nelson Mandela’s birthday, this gives everyone the opportunity to heed the call to action for people to recognise their individual power to make an imprint and change the world around them. This year Mandela day was celebrated under the theme “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”.

The programme started on 18 July 2022 in Vredesvellaie, Reimvaasmaak and the MEC reflected on the significance of this area, one of the first to have successfully concluded its restitution/Land claim which was officially handed over by the late President, Our struggle Icon, Tata Nelson Mandela.

According to MEC Vosloo “this is a landmark restitution case which will go down in history as one of its kind in that it restored the dignity of both the Damara and Xhosa communities who were displaced by a brutal apartheid regime which was at the forefront of brutal suppression and displaced many communities through the Group Areas Act a host of apartheid legislation of the time”.

One of the senior citizens Ms Martha Bosman, who is a beneficiary of the Reimvasmaak land restitution who was moved from Riemvaasmaak to Qonce by the apartheid regime. “I will never forget what Tata Nelson Mandela did for me and my community, he restored our dignity and we pride ourselves with that, we are happy that you took time to celebrate this day with us” she said.

On the 20th July 2022, MEC Vosloo made a generous donation of R20 000 to Bopanang one stop Centre in Upington. This centre provides shelter to victims of gender-based violence (GBV). As part of that day’s activities MEC opened a service delivery fair in Pabalello Township at Thembalethu hall and had lunch with the elderly and people living with disabilities and handed over blankets and dignitary packs.

Furthermore, there was a graduation ceremony for sewing and garment manufacturing where MEC handed over industrial sewing equipment to the value of R200 000, sponsored by Department of Economic Development and Tourism, championed by Integrated Economic Development Services (IEDS) programme.

All these projects were to honour this year’s Mandela day theme “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”.
       
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Contact Details
Kehilwe Motabogi
Assistant Manager: Communications
Tel : 053 839 4083
Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 

THE BATLHAROS COMMUNITY IN THE JOHN TAOLO GAETSEWE DISTRICT BENEFITS FROM THE NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT SMME BLENDED FUND.

Joined by the Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Ms. Pinky Kekana the Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr. Zamani Saul, and members of the Executive Council attended the official opening of the OP Village Mall on April 28 in Batlharos Village in Kuruman.

The OP Village Mall is the first project to be funded through the Northern Cape SMME Blended Fund. The Blended fund is collaboration between the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDaT) with DEDaT implementing the project on behalf of the Northern Cape Provincial Government. DEDAT has contributed R30 million to the partnership which will be used for non-refundable grants of up to R4 million per transaction, with 60% comprising a refundable loan portion from the NEF’s contribution of R45 million to the Blended Fund. A business must only pay back 60% of the loan.

As a result of the investment made through the Fund, a mall with 21 stores, including Shoprite, Shoprite Liquor, KFC, Pep Stores, a Hardware store, a cell phone store, apparel stores, food stores, and ATMs, has been built in the village. This project has produced 288 employment opportunities, 156 of which are permanent, and will open doors for SMMEs in the area.

One of the government's top goals is education. In his remarks, the Premier praised the owners for the investment they will be making in the community's youth through the 10% that they will be giving back. The owners will be opening a foundation where they will contribute 10% towards empowering and assisting in developing the youth in the area through educational programmes.

The owners' remarkable work in advancing rural revitalization and introducing new economic prospects for the community in Batlharos was lauded by the paramount chief, Kgosi Toto Makgolokwe. The construction of this mall is encouraging for the government's goal of creating a successful, modern, and growing Northern Cape. This program will make a significant positive impact on the revitalization of the rural economy.

Provincial Government once again encourages businesses in the Northern Cape to apply for the Blended Fund to ensure that we together grow the economy of the Province.  
 
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Contact Details
Ms. Puseletso Phoofolo
Assistant Manager: Communications
Tel: 053 839 4074

Economic Distress Fund

A lifeline for black business as NEF launches an Economic Distress Fund
 
The National Empowerment Fund (NEF) in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) has established an Economic Distress Fund to provide concessionary business loans to Black-owned and managed enterprises that are under financial distress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic “to aid their recovery, sustain existing jobs and improve productive capacity”, says CEO, Ms Philisiwe Mthethwa.
 
“The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the South African economy and placed the livelihoods of businesses and employees at stake. Black businesses, which historically have been constrained by the lack of access to affordable capital, have been dealt a particularly heavy blow. That is why the Economic Distress Fund will support black companies in accordance with the legislated mandate of the NEF, to mitigate the challenges that have been caused by the ongoing pandemic. Funding will be in the form of loan and equity and a maximum interest rate of 2.5% will apply,” explains Ms Mthethwa.
 
Ms Mthethwa adds that the NEF has dedicated teams of seasoned investment professionals comprising Chartered Accountants, engineers, corporate lawyers and various other expertise to help make the Economic Distress Fund a success.
 
Criteria for funding of between R250 000 and R10 million NEF General Counsel, Mr Mzi Dayimani, says to access the Economic Distress Fund of between R250 000 and a maximum R10 million, eligible Black businesses must provide proof of commercial viability and must demonstrate the need for economic relief as a result
of distress from COVID-19.
 
Further, applicants must prove that the business is financially distressed by demonstrating the following:
  • The business is unlikely to pay all its debts as they become due and payable for the upcoming six months,
  • The business is unable to fund its operating activities within the immediate ensuing six months,
  • With the support provided, the company must prove that it has a fair chance of recovery and job retention,
  • The business must have been in existence for at least 3 years at application date with proper historical financial records demonstrating a track-record of honouring debt obligations, except during the period since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and
  • The business must have at least 10 employees.
Successful past NEF COVID-19 funding
When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in South Africa in March 2020, the dtic entrusted the NEF with an allocation of R200 million to establish a COVID-19 Black Business Fund that would support the manufacture of essential healthcare products and the production of
priority food items that were in short supply at the time.
 
By September 2020 the NEF had “approved 33 transactions valued in excess of R207 million, with part of the funding topped up from the NEF’s balance sheet. These businesses manufacture products as diverse as hospital beds, frail care facilities, stretchers, trolleys, surgical masks, personal protective clothing such as body suits and isolation gowns. Other products are disinfectants, medical gloves, face shields, safety goggles and shoe covers, non-contact thermometers, plastic moulds, bottles, dispensers, hand sanitizers, detergents and soap, among others. With this track-record we are confident that the new Economic Distress Fund will also be a memorable success,” says Ms Mthethwa.
 
A track-record of milestones in funding black business
Mandated to grow black economic participation across the country, the NEF has approved in excess R10.9 billion across all sectors of the economy since operational inception in 2005. Over R7.24 billion has been disbursed to these companies on a milestone basis, and more
than R3.7 billion has been repaid by investees. The funding has supported 102 239 jobs. For 17 years running the NEF has received clean external audits, attesting to a commitment to good corporate governance and operational excellence,” concludes Ms Mthethwa.
 
For more information, applicants are advised to visit the NEF website, www.nefcorp.co.za, and to send inquiries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 
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Media-Statement-NEF-COVID-19-Economic-Distress-Fund-Feb-2021

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NEF-COVID-19-Economic-Relief-Fund_Advert

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NEF-COVID-19-Economic-Distress-Fund-Application-Form

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Contact Details
NEF website, www.nefcorp.co.za
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Green hydrogen highlighted as a "Big Frontier"


Following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the Northern Cape Provincial Government (NCPG), which is responsible for driving industrialisation in the Northern Cape, and Sasol, the lead project integrator and developer of the planned Boegoebaai Green hydrogen Special Economic Zone, pending a detailed feasibility study, Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele saw it as a step forward to visit the province on 17 January 2021. The Minister was at Port Nolloth for a stakeholder engagement and site inspection at Boegoebaai with a delegation from SASOL, Infrastructure South Africa, and the Northern Cape Provincial Government. 

Green hydrogen was highlighted as a "Big Frontier" that represents both future and existing growth and investment prospects for South Africa during the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) in October 2021. Green hydrogen (H2) and green hydrogen-based goods such as ammonia and synthetic jet fuels are in high demand around the world.

This is off the back of national and corporate net zero commitments aimed at keeping global warming below 2 degrees above pre- industrial levels. Due to multi-sectorial implications of green hydrogen, the Presidency plays a convening and coordinating role across government with respect to green hydrogen.

Not only did Sasol and NCPG sign a Memorandum of Agreement, but also the NCPG and the Port of Rotterdam (PoR) signed a Head of Agreement for the PoR to act as a demand aggregator for green hydrogen in Europe and the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) and Sasol signed a Memorandum of Agreement for Sasol to develop green hydrogen production facilities aimed at decarbonizing domestic industry.

The parties remain committed to moving forward with the feasibility studies in order to unlock South Africa's potential as a green hydrogen and green ammonia producer and exporter in the future, with the potential for sustainable aviation fuels, and this visit serves as a tangible demonstration of that commitment.
 
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Contact Details
Ms. Puseletso Phoofolo
Assistant Manager: Communications
Tel: 053 839 4074
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

R75m set aside for Black SMMEs in the Northern Cape

As businesses across the world continue to do battle against the constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, relief is on the way for black-owned and managed SMMEs in the Northern Cape following the establishment of the Northern Cape Blended SMME Fund between the Provincial Government’s Department of Economic Development & Tourism (DEDAT) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), valued at R75 million.
 
The initiative will focus on enterprise and supplier development support to local SMMEs and provide concessionary funding across all sectors of the provincial economy.
 
DEDAT’s R30 million contribution will be utilised for non-refundable grants of up to R4 million per transaction, with 60% comprising a refundable loan portion from the NEF’s R45 million allocation.
 
A partnership for provincial economic growth “The collaboration with the NEF for the establishment of the Northern Cape SMME Blended Fund (NCSBF), comes at a most appropriate time in our quest to recover our economy from the harsh experiences of the pandemic. The intervention is directed at ensuring that enterprises that have viable and sustainable business plans receive the financial support required to propel their businesses to new heights and address the policy priorities facing our province in pursuit of our vision of developing a modern, growing and successful Province,” says the Hon. Premier, Dr Zamani Saul.
 
“This is a first in the province and therefore presents a massive opportunity to assist enterprises and entrepreneurs that wish to contribute to the economic development of the Northern Cape Province, while provincial beneficiaries have access to an additional source of ffunding in the province through the NEF products and services. We wish to invite other institutions to participate in this intervention by contributing to this fund and by doing so, the quantum of funding that will be available to SMMES across sectors will be increased,” he adds.
 
Says NEF CEO, Ms Philisiwe Mthethwa: “This partnership is a significant advance in the NEF’s quest to optimise our invested presence
in the Northern Cape, which is renowned for its contribution to the national economy through mining, agriculture and renewable energy industries, among others, yet the benefits historically have not spread among black entrepreneurs in the province. In line with the dtic’s IPAP polices, the Fund will support black entrepreneurs across all sectors, including agro-processing, tourism, petroleum, construction, manufacturing, transportation, retail, services, franchising, property, creative industries, 4th Industrial Revolution, printing, clothing, textiles and others”.
 
She says in addition to business finance for sustainable enterprises, the NEF will extend non-financial support to investees, comprising entrepreneurial training, incubation, monitoring and mentorship. “For this purpose the NEF has committed teams of investment professionals comprising engineers, Chartered Accountants, admitted attorneys and various others to help process applications for funding so that eligible black entrepreneurs may be able to take their businesses forward. In line with the legislated mandate of the NEF, the Blended SMME Fund will provide start-up and expansionary capital to majority black-owned and managed businesses to contribute to inclusive growth in the Northern Cape,” adds Ms Mthethwa.
 
Funding Criteria for the Northern Cape SMME Blended Fund
 
The NCBSF is for the exclusive benefit of businesses that are domiciled in the province which meet the following funding criteria:
  • Majority ownership by black entrepreneurs, • Black women participation,
  • Job creation,
  • An entity of any size of turnover, which is 51% (fifty one percent) or more Black-owned or Black-women owned;
  • An entity of any size or turnover, which is 30% (thirty percent) or more Black-owned or Black-women owned with a BEE status of between 1 and 3 as defined in the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice, and
  • Commercial sustainability.
 
A solid funding track-record to support black entrepreneurs In accordance with the partnership agreement concluded in March 2021, DEDAT has partnered with the NEF “to establish, develop, implement and administer the Northern Cape Blended SMME Fund, through which the NEF will assist the Department in the acceleration of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment within the Northern Cape province”.
 
Over the years the NEF has built a strong reputation in managing enterprise and supplier development support through partnerships with various entities across the public and private sectors, and these include Government departments and entities such as the Department of Tourism, the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism as well as Transnet Port Terminals, while in the private sector these are Pick ‘n Pay, Engen, BP South Africa, Shell, Nissan, Bakubung Platinum Mine, Sishen Iron Ore Community Development Trust and Daimler Chrysler SA.
 
As a partner trusted by many, the NEF has achieved clean external audit opinions for 17 years running. Since operational inception in 2004 the NEF has approved in excess R10.9 billion for black entrepreneurs countrywide, supporting in excess of 103 000 jobs.
 
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Joint Media Statement NC BlendedSMME Fund 12 April 2021 FINAL (002)

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Brochure_NEF_NCBlended-SMMEFund

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Presentation - NEF in the Northern Cape April 2021

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APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
 
-> Northern Cape SMME Blended Fund (NCSBF)
-> Other Funding Opportunities
 
Contact Details
Ms Thandi Modibela
Senior Manager: Corporate Services
Tel : 082 373 8656
Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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