Government says the newly launched Peo Pele Youth Fund is designed to respond to the specific needs of young entrepreneurs struggling to access funding and business support.

Speaking during an interview at the launch in QwaQwa, Minister of Small Business Development Stella Tembisa Ndabeni says the fund comes at a time when youth unemployment remains a major challenge and many young people are looking to start businesses.

She says the R300  million fund will focus specifically on youth-owned businesses, with support structured according to the different stages of businesses, from start-ups to growing enterprises.

“They’re going to apply through the SEDFA agency that is implementing, and those that qualify will then be given the support, but I do want to caution that we only have R300 million for it and I know that demand is huge because there’s lots of young people, which is why we’re still calling upon other partners to join us so that we can increase the funding.”

“However, they will apply for the different businesses that they have, and they will receive their support. What we have said we are going to do, after 6 months, we will then begin to check the impact because it’s the first time we are launching it, and did it respond positively? Did we get the intended results?”

We have arrived in QwaQwa ahead of the official launch of the Youth Entrepreneurship Fund Programme.

The programme will empower young entrepreneurs, support sustainable businesses, and create economic opportunities for youth.#DSBDatWork pic.twitter.com/KApDRqpLfW

— Stella Tembisa Ndabeni (@Stellarated) June 27, 2026

Reporting by Lebohang Motshweneng

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