By Becker Semela:
Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams says her department has fixed many of the problems that small businesses faced when applying for funding.
She shared this update while speaking at the Freedom Day Marathon held in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The marathon formed part of the country’s Freedom Day celebrations. It included different race distances such as 42.2km, 21km, 10km, 5km and a shorter 1.5km fun run. The event ended with an aerobics session where participants came together to celebrate health, unity and freedom.
Ndabeni-Abrahams explained that in the past, many small business owners struggled with funding applications. Delays, lack of feedback and unclear processes made it difficult for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
However, she said the government has now introduced a new online system that aims to fix these issues.
According to the Minister, the new system is designed to be faster, more transparent and easier to use.
“Applicants will now be able to submit their funding requests online and importantly, they will receive quick feedback. If an application is not successful, the system will immediately notify the applicant. This will help business owners avoid long waiting periods and allow them to look for other opportunities without delay,” Ndabeni-Abrahams said.
She said this improvement is part of the government’s commitment to support small businesses, which play an important role in creating jobs and growing the economy. Many South Africans rely on small businesses for income, especially in tough economic times.
Ndabeni-Abrahams also shared plans to take the Freedom Day Marathon to other provinces. She said the initiative this year is part of celebrating 32 years of South Africa’s democracy. By hosting similar events across the country, the government hopes to bring people together while also promoting healthy lifestyles.
“For now, we have only focused on hosting marathons, but in future we will look at including other sporting codes,” said Ndabeni-Abrahams.
She added that the goal was to make this first event a success before expanding to other activities.
The Minister explained that they wanted the day to be well organised and enjoyable for everyone. That is why they decided to focus only on the marathon this year. Planning a large event takes time and resources and they wanted to make sure everything ran smoothly.
Despite the cold weather in Bloemfontein, many people came out to take part in the races. Young and old runners showed great determination as they completed their chosen distances.
The atmosphere was filled with energy, pride and excitement as participants honoured Freedom Day through sport.
The event not only celebrated South Africa’s history but also highlighted the importance of unity, health and economic support. With improved systems for small business funding and more community events planned, the government aims to continue building a better future for all citizens – @NewsSA_Online
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