Small Enterprise Finance Agency

Why choose sefa?

Access to finance is one of the biggest hurdles small businesses in South Africa face.

The Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa) provides development finance to SMMEs and Co-operatives that are not able to attract commercial credit. sefa is committed to providing these entities with the best service and expertise, and strives to do so in innovative and creative ways.

What we do

The Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa) provides financial products and services to qualifying SMMEs and cooperatives, as defined in the National Small Business Act of 1996 and amended in 2004, through a hybrid of wholesale and direct lending channels within the following sectors:

Services (including retail and wholesale trades and tourism)
Manufacturing (including agro-processing)
Agriculture (specifically land reform beneficiaries and contract-farming activities)
Construction (small construction contractors)
Mining (specifically small-scale miners)
Green industries (renewable energy, waste and recycling management)

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Products

Business Recovery Package
The Business Recovery Package (BRP) is a blended finance scheme aimed at assisting uninsured businesses that were negatively affected by the recent vandalism and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
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Direct Lending Products
sefa provides loans directly to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and cooperatives operating in all sectors of the economy. The facilities range from a minimum of R50 000 to a maximum of R15-million.
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Small Enterprise Manufacturing Support
The Small Enterprise Manufacturing Support Programme (SEMSP) is targeted at growing townships, rural towns and villages’ economies, by providing support to small-scale manufacturers.
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Spaza-Shop Support Programme
The spaza-shop support programme is targeted at township and rural entrepreneurs who own spaza shops, general dealers or grocery stores.
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Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP)
The Township and Rural Empowerment Programmes (TREP) supports informal, micro and small enterprises and cooperatives in the rural and township economies.
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Wholesale Lending Products
Through its wholesale lending, sefa provides facilities (debt/equity) to intermediaries, joint venture, partnerships (Specialised Funds) and other collaborative relationships.
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Youth Challenge Fund
In line with National Youth Policy, the YCF will be providing support to youth start-up businesses and enterprises.
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How to apply for funding

Apply now

Latest News & Events

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- 15 Jun 2022
- - #SuccessStory
When one company is supported to succeed, others will, too
Madiba established Sakhe in 2020 in order to acquire two interrelated engineering businesses, Gehring Engineering and AIG Plasma. The Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa) assisted him with the funds to acquire the companies and stock, along with working capital.
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- 14 Jun 2022
- - Press release
sefa and the AIDC announce partnership to give SMMEs in the automotive and manufacturing industries a leg up
sefa and the AIDC announced a combined initiative that aims to support South Africa’s automotive and manufacturing industries by improving access to opportunities for SMMEs and boosting supply-chain and enterprise development.
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- 14 Jun 2022
- - Youth
Reducing youth unemployment in South Africa and worldwide
In this extract from his paper titled “Strategies for reducing youth unemployment in South Africa”, Jubane talks about macroeconomic and microeconomic policies that can be used to reduce youth unemployment in South Africa and worldwide.
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- 14 Jun 2022
- - #SuccessStory
Arion Power
Arion Power received its pre-seed funding and assistance with cash flow from sefa. Here’s a look at the business, founded by a group of postgraduate students as part of the University of Cape Town’s Genesis programme.
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- 14 Jun 2022
- - #SuccessStory
Mpilo Keswa, Touch Technology Internet Café
sefa funding recipient Mpilo Keswa of Touch Technology Internet Café in Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal, talks to us about her business journey and experience with sefa.
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- 14 Jun 2022
- - #SuccessStory
Boitumelo Pico, D500 Kitchen
Meet 32-year-old Boitumelo Pico, owner of D500 Kitchen, a chicken and fish-and-chips establishment based in Utlwanang in North West province, which is one of the youth-owned businesses funded and supported by sefa.
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- 27 May 2022
- - News
National Integrated Small Enterprise Development (NISED) Masterplan
The NISED Masterplan forms the third iteration of the high-level strategic framework of SMME development and targeted support, following the White paper in 1995, the Integrated Strategy for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprise (ISPESE) in 2004 and the Improvement plan developed in 2019 post the ISPESE’s evaluation.
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- 7 Apr 2022
- - Newsletter
Our latest newsletter - Asibonisane e-newsletter: let's connect
In our latest newsletter we spotlight the Amavulandlela Funding Scheme and our SMME roadshows. Our CEO gives some advice we help with common application pitfalls.
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- 17 Mar 2022
- - Press release
Financial assistance for entrepreneurs with disabilities
The sefa Amavulandlela Funding Scheme is set to usher businesses of entrepreneurs with disabilities into the mainstream economy.
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- 16 Feb 2022
- - Alert
Scam alert
Please note that there is currently a scam doing the rounds about a township progressing business forum fund.
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