Empowering Communities: Municipality Facilitates Funding Application Workshop

Story: Sinazo Bonongo | Photo: Sinazo Bonongo

In a commendable effort towards community empowerment the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) in conjunction with Walter Sisulu Local Municipality recently held a workshop for informal businesses in order to assist them in their endeavour to acquire funding from the Informal Micro Enterprise Development Programme. This programme is focused on assisting with equipment and any other tools a business may need to progress. The department has selected Walter Sisulu to take part in this round of this initiative .The small business owners will receive equipment according to their business niche as well as the needs there of, this however excludes stock as the department seeks to provide long term development.

In the two day workshop held in Bugersdorp as well as Maletswai, Emmanuel Moshoeshoe from DSBD took the attendees through the criteria and turn-around time of the funding process, informing them that the programme caters for two types of informal business which are registered and non-registered businesses where the fund limit is R10 000 and R15 000 respectively.  Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism was also on hand to assist in filling in the forms for those who need help.

These resources are to be beneficial for the business as well as the community and as such benefactors are prohibited from selling any of the received goods.

The workshop exemplifies the power of local government in facilitating community-driven development. By providing guidance, resources, and networking opportunities, the municipality is empowering grassroots organisations to realise their visions for a brighter future. This collaborative effort underscores the importance of partnerships between government, civil society, and residents in building vibrant and resilient communities.