Sanlam And SANParks Launch R10 Million SMME Support Programme
Sanlam And SANParks Launch R10 Million SMME Support Programme. The Sanlam Group and South African National Parks (SANParks) launched a R10 million programme to provide access to market, finance and business development support to SMMEs from communities surrounding South Africa’s major national parks.
At the launch event held in the Kruger National Park, on the date that the United Nations declared Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day, Sanlam and SANParks said South Africa’s major parks contribute around R3 billion to the economy annually, creating and retaining jobs in the small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMME) sector. Focused initially on the Kruger National Park – one of the largest National Parks in Africa – the programme aims to impact targeted SMMEs as identified in the SANParks overall supply management plan and will run for a one-year period.
The programme will offer short-term working capital through interest-free loans to SMMEs with whom SANParks can procure goods and services in and around the Kruger National Park. Sanlam, Africa’s largest non-banking financial services group, will contribute, as part of its pilot programme, R10 million in loan support, and development support will be implemented by I AM AN ENTREPRENEUR (IAAE), a leading enterprise development agency experienced in helping entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses. The programme aims to create sustainable SMMEs with the capability to deliver goods and services to SANParks, thereby preserving and potentially contributing to job creation in and around the Kruger National Park.
Karl Socikwa, Group Executive: Market Development & Sustainability at Sanlam, said this is an example of the Group’s deep commitment to sustainable growth on the African continent. “Our purpose is to empower generations of Africans to be financially confident, secure, and prosperous. SMMEs are critical to the South African economy, they’re a major lever for growth. In fact, the National Development Plan forecasts SMMEs will create 90% of the 11 million new jobs our country desperately needs. This will not happen unless we, as part of South Africa’s corporate community, play our part.”
“The Sanlam Group is deeply committed to driving the development and growth of the South African economy. Our impact journey is not a new one – we’ve been committed to investing in communities and the environment for more than 100 years. Our parks are a pivotal part of our nation, and we need to treasure them – and the universe of people responsible for their maintenance and upkeep. We know many of these SMMEs have been severely impacted by the pandemic. We are delighted to partner with SANParks to offer vital financial and business development support to help these businesses thrive.” He adds, “SMMEs are imperative for economic recovery and growth in all the markets in which we operate, and, within the context of our country’s unprecedented unemployment rate, they are a key catalyst in the creation and preservation of jobs.”
