R20b Black Business Fund Should Target Construction SMMEs
Olebogeng Manhe Chairman of the Gap Infrastructure Corporation( GIC)
The recent State of the Nation Address( SoNA) announced a R20 billion-per-year fund to support black-owned and small enterprises, and while this initiative holds great promise for a number of sectors, few would benefit as much as the construction industry. It’ s therefore imperative that government directs a sizeable portion of this fund to construction in 2025.
Construction already employs thousands of people in disadvantaged communities across the country, and is an ideal sector for entrepreneurs from previously disadvantaged backgrounds to start and build their own business. Having access to additional support through this fund could help these entrepreneurs and new construction firms stabilise early, protect themselves against common small-business risks, and ultimately thrive in a competitive field.
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