The Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu, will on Friday, 9 December in Welkom, Free State, launch a funding scheme that is aimed at supporting entrepreneurs with disabilities.

The Amavulandlela Fund, which is managed by the department’s agency, Small Enterprise Funding Agency (SEFA), seeks to empower people with disabilities to access business opportunities and to become active participants in the mainstream economy.

Minister Zulu said: "As a caring government, we envisage a society where people with disabilities, like all South Africans, are accorded their full political, human, social and economic rights."

The Amavulandlela Fund will consist of a R24 million loan funding component and a R6 million business support grant component. The scheme is only applicable to entrepreneurs with physical disabilities, companies and co-operatives with at least 26% ownership by people with disabilities and those that demonstrate operational and management involvement in the business.

Minister Zulu added: "People with disabilities can and should be active players in the mainstream economy. All barriers must be removed to enable them to access all available opportunities. We are determined to strengthen our support for small businesses that are owned and managed by people with disabilities."

The event will be held as follows:

Date: Friday, 9 December 2016
Time: 09:00
Venue: Freddie Meyer Hall, Welkom
RSVPs:  Clement Moaga on 071 223 9957/ CMoaga@dsbd.gov.za
Enquiries: Cornelius Monama on 060 960 3158/ 012 394-3027/ CMonama@dsbd.gov.za /CMonama@gmail.com