Empowering South Africa's small businesses for inclusive growth, transformation and sustainable employment.

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What do you need to do today?

Explore funding options suited to your business, apply through the appropriate portal, track your application and access support, all in one place.

Find fundingExplore SEDFA's funding products and find the right financing solution for your business.Browse programmes Apply for fundingApply through OneSEDFA or track earlier applications on the old SMME Portal.Start an application Track an applicationSign in to the relevant portal to track and manage your funding application.Track it now Request a serviceGet support for your business, funding applications or co-operative banking.Make a request

Not sure where to start? Call 086 010 3703.

Business support

Get business support, not just funding.

SEDFA's business development programmes grow enterprises as well as finance them. Pick the service that fits your stage.

Business training

Empretec: recognised entrepreneurship training for owner-managers.

Incubation

Incubation programme: structured support for early-stage enterprises.

Also on offer: Township and Rural Support, Technology Transfer, Entrepreneurship in Schools, Pitch for Funding, Manufacturing Supplier Development

Find the right funding

Explore SEDFA's funding products, understand how each can support your business, and apply through OneSEDFA or view more details.

Asset finance

Finance for the vehicles, machinery and equipment your business needs to produce and deliver.

  • Equipment
  • Vehicles
  • Machinery

Suited to: Manufacturers, transport operators and construction firms.

Apply Details

Term loan

Access working and growth capital with fixed repayment terms and rates tailored to small enterprises.

  • Working capital
  • Growth
  • Fixed term

Suited to: Established traders and producers who are ready to expand.

Apply Details

Bridging loan

Short-term finance to carry out a signed contract or purchase order while you wait to be paid.

  • Short term
  • Contracts
  • Purchase orders

Suited to: Suppliers with signed contracts or purchase orders.

Apply Details

Revolving credit

A flexible facility you can draw on, repay and reuse as your business cash flow needs may change.

  • Cash flow
  • Seasonal
  • Flexible

Suited to: Businesses with seasonal or uneven cash cycles.

Apply Details

Wholesale lending

Funding channelled through financial institutions that provide loans to small enterprises.

  • Intermediaries
  • On-lending
  • Partners

Suited to: Applicants reached through SEDFA's partner institutions.

Apply Details

Amavulandlela Funding

Funding for businesses owned by persons with disabilities, with flexible repayment options.

  • Disability
  • Targeted
  • Accessible

Suited to: Entrepreneurs with disabilities seeking business funding.

Apply Details

Full list of funding

Explore

Featured programmes

View every programme
TREPBlended finance and business development support that helps informal, micro and small enterprises in township and rural economies participate in the mainstream economy.Explore programme Youth FundThe Peo Pele Youth Fund provides youth-owned enterprises with tailored finance and business development support, helping young entrepreneurs start, grow and sustain businesses.Explore programme Construction FundThe Construction Fund is a joint initiative that improves access to finance for small and medium construction enterprises, helping them grow, deliver projects and jobs.Explore programme Imbali for HerImbali for Her is a flagship national programme designed to promote inclusive economic participation among women by providing integrated financial and non-financial support.Explore programme Supplier DevelopmentSkills, capability and market-access support that helps supplier firms compete for opportunities with corporates and state-owned enterprises.Explore programme EmpretecSEDFA's Empretec Programme promotes the creation of sustainable support structures that help promising entrepreneurs build innovative and internationally competitive small and medium sized enterprises.Explore programme

Sign in or track your application

Your application is managed through one of three systems, depending on when and how you applied. Select the relevant portal to access and track your application.

New and current applications

OneSEDFA

One profile for your business. Get matched to the funding you qualify for, apply and follow your application. Everything current lives here.

  • Apply for any SEDFA funding programme
  • Funding readiness score and automatic matches
Sign in (opens in a new tab)

Applications lodged before OneSEDFA

Old SMME Portal

Applications lodged before the move to OneSEDFA remain in the original SMME Portal. Sign in there to view, continue or complete them.

  • View applications lodged before OneSEDFA
  • Continue a saved application
  • Upload outstanding documents
Sign in to the Old SMME Portal (opens in a new tab)

Co-operative banking institutions and members

myCBi

Co-operative financial institutions and CBI members bank and manage their institution on SEDFA's dedicated co-operative banking platform.

  • Digital banking built for CBIs
  • Institution and member management
  • Governance and reporting tools
Go to mycbi.co.za (opens in a new tab)

Not sure which system holds your application? Call 086 010 3703 and we will help you find it.

Apply for funding

Submit new funding applications through OneSEDFA. If you applied before OneSEDFA was introduced, access and manage your existing application through the legacy SMME Portal.

  1. 01

    Profile your business

    Create your free OneSEDFA account and complete your business profile once, making it easier to apply for multiple funding opportunities without repeating the process.

  2. 02

    See your matches

    Assess your business's readiness for funding and discover which SEDFA funding programmes you may qualify for, based on your business profile and eligibility criteria.

  3. 03

    Submit

    Select a suitable funding programme, upload the required documents and submit your application. Your saved business profile details are automatically carried over.

  4. 04

    Track

    Track the progress of your funding application through your OneSEDFA dashboard, with easy access to application updates, current status and important next steps.

OneSEDFAAll new funding applications start on OneSEDFA.
Start on OneSEDFA (opens in a new tab)
Old SMME PortalFor applications submitted before the introduction of OneSEDFA.
Continue an older application (opens in a new tab)

Have these ready when you apply

  • CIPC registration
  • Certified IDs of the owners
  • Bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months
  • Latest financial statements
  • A quote, invoice or contract
  • SARS tax clearance certificate

Request a service

Select the type of assistance you require. The form below will automatically display your selected category.

Business development support

Mentorship, business coaching, incubation and market-readiness support.

Make a request

Funding enquiry

Guidance on funding programmes, eligibility and ongoing applications.

Make a request

Co-operative banking

Support for CBIs and their members on accounts, governance and myCBi.

Make a request

Complaint or compliment

Share your concerns, report challenges or provide feedback on our services.

Make a request

Prefer to speak to someone? Call the service desk on 086 010 3703.

Book an appointment at a branch: coming soon.

How Can We Help?

Send us an enquiry, complaint or feedback and it goes straight to our team.

Up to 2,000 characters.

Privacy notice: Your information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and POPIA compliance. We will only use the information you provide to respond to your enquiry. By submitting this form, you consent to us contacting you regarding your request.

Fraud and Ethics Hotline

Report fraud or unethical conduct

The Fraud and Ethics Hotline is run independently of SEDFA, 24 hours a day. You do not have to give your name.

OnlineSubmit a secure reportthehotline.co.za/report (opens in a new tab)Toll-free call0800 724 666Speak to the hotline teamSMS30916Send a text messageEmailsedfa@thehotline.co.zaWrite to the independent hotline

More about the Fraud and Ethics Hotline

Co-operative banking

SEDFA continues the mandate of the Co-operative Banking Development Agency (CBDA), supporting the growth and development of co-operative financial institutions (CFIs) and co-operative banks. Through this work, SEDFA expands access to inclusive financial services, particularly in underserved communities with limited access to traditional banking.

For CBIs and their members: myCBi

myCBi is SEDFA's purpose-built digital banking platform for South African Co-operative Banking Institutions: secure banking, institution management and member services in one place.

  • Digital banking and payments for registered CBIs
  • Member management and governance tools
  • Reporting for institutions and regulators
Visit mycbi.co.za (opens in a new tab)

For corporates and stakeholders

Information on the co-operative banking sector, the development mandate and how to partner with SEDFA to grow it.

  • Training, mentorship and coaching for prospective CBIs
  • Support for registering and strengthening CFIs
  • Partnerships, secondary capital and sector development
Talk to SEDFA Corporate information

About SEDFA

On 1 October 2024, the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa), Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) and Co-operative Banks Development Agency (CBDA) merged to establish the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA). This integration brings development finance, business development support and co-operative banking under a single mandate, enabling SEDFA to deliver coordinated and accessible services to small enterprises across all nine provinces of South Africa. SEDFA is a registered credit provider (NCR No. 20821).

Read about SEDFA Corporate website

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about SEDFA funding

Start a Business?
  • Startup Funding
  • Youth Startup Funding
  • Women Startup Funding
Grow a Business
  • Growth Capital Funding
  • Sector-Specific Funding
Micro & Township Businesses

Micro & Township Enterprise Funding

Women Entrepreneurs?

Women Enterprise Funding

Youth Entrepreneurs

Youth Enterprise Funding

Cooperatives?

Cooperative Funding

Need a Guarantee?

Credit Guarantee Support

Business in Distress?

Business Recovery & Resilience Funding

What is the minimum and maximum loan amount?

SEDFA's direct lending products range from R50,000 to R15 million depending on the programme. TREP offers up to R1,000,000 with blended grant/loan structure. SEMSP offers up to R15 million for manufacturers. The Youth Challenge Fund offers up to R2 million for start-ups and up to R15 million for growth enterprises. Decisions on applications below R500,000 are typically made within 21 working days.

What is SEDFA's NCR registration number?

SEDFA's National Credit Regulator (NCR) registration number is 20821. SEDFA is a State-owned company (SOC Limited) with the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) as shareholder.

What are SEDFA's operating hours?

SEDFA offices are open Monday to Friday, 08:00–16:30. You can contact us at talktous@sedfa.org.za, phone +27 86 010 3703 (Hatfield) or +27 12 748 9600 (Centurion).

What is SEDFA?

The Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) was established on 1 October 2024 through the merger of sefa, Seda, and the Cooperative Banks Development Agency (CBDA). SEDFA is a Schedule 2 public entity under the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), providing financial and non-financial support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives across South Africa.

How do I apply for funding?

You can apply for SEDFA funding through the online SMME Portal at systemsnew.sefa.org.za/SMMEPortal.

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