ern Cape Provincial Government is making strides in empowering the province s youth through Isiqalo Youth Fund, a targeted initiative aimed at supporting legally registered, youth-owned enterprises. The fund is part of a broader strategy to foster youth development, promote entrepreneurship, and create sustainable employment opportunities in the province.
Launched to address key barriers facing young entrepreneurs, the fund provides both financial and non-financial support to businesses that are still in the early stages of growth. To make the fund accessible, the Office of the Premier opens an annual application window, during which young entrepreneurs can submit their business proposals. The call for applications is widely advertised on official websites, social media platforms, and public notice boards at municipal offices across the province. Applications are submitted through a designated online portal, ensuring broad accessibility.
The programme has already yielded tangible results. In the previous term, a total of 82 youth-owned businesses were approved for support through the Entrepreneurship & Empowerment Programme. With 22 of those enterprises having already received funding, the total investment disbursed so far amounts to over R12 million, marking a significant milestone in advancing inclusive economic participation and youth-led innovation in the Eastern Cape.
For the current financial year, the provincial government aims to disburse funding to the remaining 60 entrepreneurs already identified in the programme pipeline. In addition to financial support, the initiative will offer business development training, mentorship, and market linkage facilitation to help improve the sustainability and growth potential of the supported enterprises. Efforts are also underway to strengthen monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to better track the impact of the fund and ensure accountability.
Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane emphasised that the programme will deepen collaboration with financial institutions and private sector stakeholders to enhance service delivery and extend its reach. Public awareness campaigns will be intensified to ensure more young people know about and can benefit from the initiative.
Isiqalo Youth Fund is not just about disbursing money but about building a new generation of confident, capable entrepreneurs who can drive real change in their communities. Young business owners across the Eastern Cape are encouraged to stay informed about future application rounds by following updates on official government platforms,” said Premier Mabuyane.
