KZN Legislature and NEF Support Women Entrepreneurs

The National Empowerment Fund (NEF), in collaboration with The Presidency, the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Multiparty Women’s Caucus (MPWC), and the Greater Kokstad Local Municipality, hosted a Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme (WEEP) Workshop at the Kokstad Town Hall in the Harry Gwala District on August 19.

The workshop was part of the national WEEP initiative, which focuses on empowering women entrepreneurs, start-up founders, and informal traders by providing essential skills, resources, and networks to grow and formalise their businesses. The programme connects women to funding, market access, and compliance tools through partnerships with The Presidency, provincial legislatures, municipalities, and key economic stakeholders.

The Kokstad event offered a comprehensive programme designed to address key challenges faced by women in business. It included:

• Practical Business Compliance Guidance: Experts from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (KZN DEDTEA), Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), and the National Consumer Commission provided guidance on registration, certification, and compliance with Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) requirements.
• Tender Readiness Training: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Commission, and KZN Provincial Treasury offered training on completing tender documents, understanding local content requirements, and preparing for public sector contracts.
• Funding Access Sessions: Representatives from the NEF, Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDA), Township and Rural Economic Programme (TREP), Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), ABSA Group, Standard Bank, and Old Mutual shared information on funding products, eligibility criteria, and the application process.
• Market Linkages: Participants were introduced to market access opportunities through initiatives like UN Women’s Buy from Women Platform, the Sanitary Dignity Programme from the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD), and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development, as well as SheTrades.

The workshop saw participation from registered and informal women-owned businesses, entrepreneurs seeking funding, market access, and compliance guidance, as well as start-up founders eager to formalise their operations.

“This workshop was not just about information – it’s about action,” said Siziwe Zulu, the NEF’s Business Development Officer. “Women will leave here knowing exactly how to apply for funding, how to win government tenders, and how to position their businesses for long-term growth. The NEF is committed to walking this journey with them.”

Celiwe Qhamkile Madlopha, Chairperson of the Multiparty Women’s Caucus, highlighted the broader impact of empowering women: “When we empower women entrepreneurs, we strengthen communities and build the economy from the ground up. The WEEP workshops are designed to remove barriers, provide access to finance and markets, and equip women with the practical skills they need to thrive. We encourage every woman-owned business in the Harry Gwala District and surrounding areas to seize this opportunity.”

The event was a significant step forward in supporting women entrepreneurs in the region, providing them with the tools and resources to grow their businesses sustainably.