Ndabeni-Abrahams to hand equipment to Small Business Owners in Limpopo

Machinery and Equipment Provided as Part of Government Programmes to Support Informal Traders and Small Enterprises.

On Thursday, Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams will hand over machinery and equipment to 104 business owners in Greater Tzaneen, Limpopo, as part of the department's ongoing efforts to support small enterprises and informal traders. The equipment, sourced from various departmental programmes, is intended to help business owners strengthen their operations and contribute to economic growth.

The handover is part of several initiatives managed by the Department of Small Business Development and its agencies, including the Asset Assist Programme (AAP), Cooperatives Development Support Programme (CDSP), and the Informal and Micro Enterprise Development Programme (IMEDP). The IMEDP, which provides a 100% grant to informal traders, is specifically designed to support micro-enterprises with vital business tools.

Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams will be joined by her Deputy Minister, Jane Sithole, in the distribution of equipment to the beneficiaries of the IMEDP, delivering on the government's promise to provide much-needed resources to informal traders in the region.

“Their mission is to hand over machinery and equipment to business owners from the region. Informal and micro enterprises have been promised these implements, and this is a promise to be kept," the department stated.

Programmes Driving Small Business Growth

The Asset Assist Programme (AAP), which plays a central role in this initiative, is designed to provide Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) with crucial business assets, along with financial advice and expert consulting services. This initiative equips small businesses with the necessary tools to grow and thrive, contributing to the country’s economic development.

The Cooperatives Development Support Programme (CDSP) offers blended financing, combining grants and loans, to support cooperatives in acquiring machinery, equipment, and infrastructure. This programme is essential in fostering the growth of sustainable and competitive cooperatives across South Africa, further strengthening the cooperative sector.

The handover of machinery and equipment is seen as a significant step toward empowering small business owners, enabling them to expand their operations and create more job opportunities within their communities. By investing in tools and resources for MSMEs, the government aims to enhance the economic impact of small businesses nationwide.