Bloemfontein: The Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) has urged spaza shop owners, informal business traders, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including Cooperatives, to apply for online funding incentives. This follows the commitment made during the tabling of the department's 2025/26 Budget Vote Speech.

According to South African Government News Agency, the department emphasized their commitment to supporting the business community in the Free State, aiming to provide MSMEs with access to strategic resources such as skills, knowledge, networks, and finance. The department stated that the incentives are designed to offer both financial and non-financial support to help businesses sustain themselves, acquire necessary equipment and machinery, create jobs, and improve the township economy.

Applications for these incentives will be open from 11 July 2025 to 21 July 2025 and can be accessed at https://client.fsdestea.kwantu.me/. The department has introduced three specific incentives: Spaza Shop Support, Small Enterprise Support, and Medium Enterprise Support, each targeting different business scales and sectors.

The Spaza Shop Support Incentive targets informal traders and spaza shops with an annual turnover of less than R1 million, with support up to R100,000. Requirements include an ID, municipal business permit, proof of address, and the business must be majority black-owned and managed, with the applicant being a South African citizen residing in the Free State.

The Small Enterprise Support is for businesses with turnovers under R10 million, offering up to R250,000 focusing on sectors like retail, manufacturing, and hospitality. The Medium Enterprise Support provides expansion capital up to R1 million for medium-sized enterprises in sectors such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and green energy.

Makume highlighted the department's mission to enhance financial inclusion by increasing access to finance for women, youth, and people with disabilities in township and rural areas. The MSMEs incentive fund aims to address specific funding gaps, primarily focusing on business expansion.

Successful applicants will enter a funding agreement with the department, but those with outstanding invoices or previous demand letters are ineligible. Interested parties can contact designated officials for more information on each incentive program.