The Mercury writes that financial support of R1.1 billion has been provided to small and emerging businesses in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in the past five years.  

Addressing the KZN provincial government lekgotla last week, MEC Sihle Zikalala said that through the KZN Growth Fund, his department had provided financial support to scores of budding enterprises.  He reported as follows:  “The performance of the KZN Growth Fund has surpassed our expectations.  Over the past five years, the fund has recorded project approvals amounting to R1.1bn towards investments in diverse sectors of the economy that include manufacturing, healthcare, transport, logistics as well as in the telecommunications sector.”  Zikalala said the projects had created 9,795 job opportunities to date.  Newly appointed KZN Growth Fund chief executive officer, Aubrey Shabane, said his organisation was committed to reducing inequalities and the promotion of broad-based black economic empowerment.

• Read the full original of the report on the above at The Mercury

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