Township & rural
Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP)
Blended finance and business development support that helps informal, micro and small enterprises in township and rural economies participate in the mainstream economy.
Opens the Old SMME Portal sign-in page.
Objectives
Objectives
- Participate in the rebuilding and restructuring of the economy in townships and rural areas
- Improve the quality and competitiveness of small enterprises for both domestic supply and export market
- Seize opportunities in various sectors through the value chains and beyond
Sectors
Qualifying business sectors
- Clothing & Textile
- Bakeries & Confectionaries
- Tshisanyama and Cooked Food
- Retail (including restaurants, car washes, general dealers etc.)
- Automotive
- Personal Care
- Artisans
Coverage
What the scheme covers
- Cost of production inputs, e.g. material, equipment, machinery, tools
- Working capital including salaries, rent etc.
- Assistance with compliance and technical skills improvement, e.g. labelling, industry standards and quality
- Business and financial management training, including productivity management
- Facilitated market access
Financial support
The financial package
The financial package is structured at a maximum value of R1 000 000 that consists of blended finance, with 50% of the total approved amount being a grant (a maximum grant amount of R100 000).
Repayment
Loan repayment terms
- Maximum 36 months repayment period dependent on cash flows
- Interest rate at a fixed rate of 5%
- 3 months moratorium (on capital and interest)
Eligibility
Who can apply?
- An entity registered with CIPC including cooperatives
- The business must be 100% owned by South African nationals
- Employees must be 70% South Africans, and non-South African employees must hold valid work permits as determined by the Department of Home Affairs
- The enterprise must be operating in a township or rural area
- The enterprise or its owner must possess, or be willing to apply for, a business licence with the local municipality after funding is provided
- The enterprise must be registered, or apply for registration, with SARS and UIF
- The enterprise must have a valid business bank account, or be willing to open and operate one