SA Government Honours Donna Katzin’s Work On Financial Inclusion Of SMMEs
SA Government Honours Donna Katzin’s Work On Financial Inclusion Of SMMEs. Donna Katzin, the visionary founder of Shared Interest, an NGO dedicated to expanding access to loans for Black-owned businesses in Southern Africa, has been honoured with the prestigious 2024 Order of the Companions of OR Tambo by the South African government.
The National Orders are the highest awards that South Africa, through the President, bestows on citizens and eminent foreign nationals who have contributed towards the advancement of democracy and who have made a significant impact on improving the lives of South Africans.
Katzin’s name is among other recipients of the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo Award, which recognises eminent foreign nationals and other foreign dignitaries for friendship, solidarity, and support shown to South Africa. She is being recognised for her innovative thinking in assisting post-apartheid South African businesses get ethical investments by promoting networking between South African businesses and American investors.
“It is deeply humbling to receive the 2024 Order of the Companions of OR Tambo from the South African government,” acknowledged Katzin. In reality, it belongs to the millions of ordinary justice-loving people around the world who helped do extraordinary things.”She added, “This recognition is a testament to the power of collaboration and the collective effort toward building a more just and inclusive society. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue our shared mission of promoting economic empowerment and sustainable development in South Africa and across the region.”
For more than three decades, Katzin has been at the forefront of promoting inclusive economic growth and development in post-apartheid South Africa. Through Shared Interest, she has championed the financial inclusion of Black-owned small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa. With a specific focus on removing the barriers they face to accessing loans, such as lack of assets required by banks as collateral and lack of information and skills among small businesses. Her pioneering work continues to make an impact on the nation.
Reflecting on the journey of Shared Interest, Katzin stated, “30 years ago, apartheid ended, but the arduous task of integrating Black and female-owned small businesses into South Africa’s new economy began. Shared Interest formed a guarantee fund to incentivise financial institutions to lend to eligible small businesses despite the absence of assets required as loan collateral.”
To date, Shared Interest has issued partial credit guarantees worth an impressive US$34 million, unlocking an astounding US$131 million in local capital for small businesses in South Africa and neighbouring countries such as Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia. The organisation has recently expanded its efforts to include Lesotho, furthering its mission of promoting inclusive economic growth across the region.
