By Palesa Mofoti
The first handover of the Youth, Women, and Persons with Disability Fund (YWD) was held on 16 April 2024 in Kimberley.
The YWD Fund is the initiative of the Northern Cape Ministry for Youth, Women, Persons with Disability and e-Commerce. Through this fund equipment and financial assistance to the tune of R8,9 million was distributed to formal and informal entrepreneurs from Francis Baard.
The Recreation Hall was buzzing with businessmen and women from Francis Baard, including Premier Zamani Saul, MEC for Youth Women and Persons with Disabilities and e-Commerce Venus Blennies, MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture Desery Fienies, MEC for Education Zolile Monakali, Executive Mayor of Sol Plaatje Municipality Kagisho Sonyoni and Francis Baard District Executive Mayor Unondumiso Buda.
Representatives from the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) and ABSA delivered messages of support and presented business opportunities to delegates.
The YWD Fund was launched in August 2023 aiming to accelerate economic activities and empower youth, women and persons with disabilities through funding opportunities.
An elated MEC Blennies said, “The Northern Cape Provincial government takes enterprise development very seriously because it is the backbone of our local economy, it fosters innovations, drives economic growth and creates opportunities for our communities. We understand that by investing in our small businesses we are investing in the future.”
Mme Re Ka Thusa Trust Fund (MRKTTF), the implementing agency administered 264 applications and 223 applicants were approved consisting of 180 women, 107 youth and 10 from the disabled ommunity.
Saul thanked all the applicants for their efforts and pledged the government’s support. “We commit ourselves to ensure that the informal sector is adequately supported. This sector plays a critical role in the economy of the Northern Cape. Out of 329 000 people going to work every morning in the province 72 000 forms part of the small business sector,” he remarked.
Businesses were categorized according to their services, hair salon, catering, mini bakery, tuck shop, street traders, and other traders, received equipment and stock to the value of R3000.
Formal businesses received cash cheques in various amounts, with the condition that they must submit invoices within 14 days after receiving the funds as proof of purchase and a copy of the bank statement must also be brought after 30 days to the implementing agent, MRKTTF.
Kelly-Jane Steenkamp of Kas Tiny Steppers, an ECD centre in De Beers thanked the provincial government and indicated that they will use the grant to improve the playgrounds, especially for children with special needs.
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