In a major push to close South Africa’s persistent gender funding gap, the national government has unveiled the Imbali For Her programme, a R300-million financing facility specifically designed to propel women entrepreneurs toward building sustainable, scalable businesses. The initiative, jointly spearheaded by the Department of Small Business Development and the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA), targets underserved provinces where women-owned enterprises have historically struggled to access capital.
Priority regions include the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Free State—areas with some of the highest female unemployment rates and lowest small-business financing penetration. Under the programme, women entrepreneurs can access up to R5-million through a carefully structured blend of grants and low-interest loans. Critically, women living with disabilities qualify for enhanced grant components, recognizing the compounded barriers they face in securing traditional financing. “This is not charity; this is economic justice,” said Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, speaking at the launch event in Bloemfontein.
The fund also includes business development support, mentorship, and market access linkages to ensure capital translates into long-term viability. Applications open next month through SEDFA’s provincial offices and an online portal. Government aims to disburse the full R300-million within 18 months, targeting over 1,500 women-owned enterprises across the three priority provinces. Early expressions of interest have already exceeded expectations, signaling strong demand.
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