“Small businesses are the heartbeat of any thriving economy, and the Gauteng City Region needs a well-oiled small business sector to realise its ‘Growing Gauteng Together 2030’ vision,” says Barba Gaoganediwe-Matshogo, CEO of Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA).

GTA is now is encouraging SMMEs in the tourism sector in Gauteng, who have been affected by COVID-19 and/or the July rioting and looting, to apply for special relief from the Gauteng Rebuilding Fund by the Gauteng Provincial Government.

This R100m (€5.7m) fund (half contributed by the Gauteng Provincial Government and the other half by the Industrial Development Corporation) operates under the auspices of the Economic Development Department and is exclusively set aside to support businesses that have suffered losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent looting that took place in July.

GTA says this proactive response to unprecedented challenges faced by small businesses (especially those in the informal sector) will be administered through the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP). Qualifying Gauteng-based small businesses from any sector can apply for the funding, which will help them cover rebuilding costs, repairs, replacement of infrastructure, inventory, equipment and critical supplies. It will also cover increased business security and employee costs.

“We urge all Gauteng tourism SMMEs to take advantage of this opportunity and apply for this special relief support. The tourism sector has been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic due to a massive fall of international and domestic demand amid global travel and domestic trading restrictions and the closure of many business and heritage sites in our tourism hubs, townships, and business districts,” says Gaoganediwe-Matshogo, adding that the fund will go a long way in boosting confidence and reigniting the passion of the affected businesses to continue trading and safeguard current jobs.

To qualify, businesses must demonstrate the ability to service the loan component through a repayment plan. They must further provide evidence that the enterprise was trading before the COVID-19 outbreak or unrest in July.

Applications are now open, and businesses can apply on www.gep.co.za.