Stella Ndabeni Launches R300 Million Peo Pele Youth Fund in Phuthaditjaba to Curb Youth Unemployment

Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Tembisa Ndabeni, officially launched the Peo Pele Youth Fund in Phuthaditjaba, marking the culmination of Youth Month with a powerful call for young South Africans to embrace entrepreneurship as a weapon against unemployment.

The R300 million fund is designed to respond to the specific needs of young entrepreneurs who have long struggled to access funding and business support. Speaking at the launch in QwaQwa, Ndabeni emphasised that the initiative comes at a critical time when youth unemployment remains a major challenge and many young people are looking to start their own businesses.

“They’re going to apply through the SEDFA agency that is implementing, and those that qualify will then be given the support, ” Ndabeni said. However, she struck a cautious tone regarding the scale of the demand: “I do want to caution that we only have R300 million for it and I know that demand is huge because there’s lots of young people, which is why we’re still calling upon other partners to join us so that we can increase the funding”.

The fund will support youth-owned businesses at different stages of growth, from start-ups to expanding enterprises. Ndabeni also outlined a clear monitoring framework, stating: “What we have said we are going to do, after six months, we will then begin to check the impact because it’s the first time we are launching it, and did it respond positively, did we get the intended results? “

On the photo: Stella Ndabeni, Minister of Small Business Development 

The Small Enterprise Development and Finance Development Agency (SEDFA) is the implementing arm of the fund, with a particular focus on spaza shop funding and other business sector financing. The initiative not only commemorates 50 years since the 1976 Youth Uprising but also aims to create meaningful economic opportunities for small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs).

Among the success stories already emerging from the department’s funding programmes is Fresh Poultry Farming, a black-owned business that has benefited from the funding opportunities availed through the department and SEDFA. The enterprise stands as a testament to what young entrepreneurs can achieve when given the necessary financial backing and business support.

Ndabeni urged young people to make full use of the assistance provided by her department, reinforcing that entrepreneurship offers a viable path out of unemployment. The launch event in Phuthaditjaba drew significant attention, with the minister paying homage to the local chief, signaling the partnership with traditional leaders.

The fund’s implementation through SEDFA ensures that young entrepreneurs across the country will have access to structured support tailored to their business needs. As the Youth Month draws to a close, the message from Phuthaditjaba was clear: the government is putting its weight behind young business owners, but success will ultimately depend on the youth seizing these opportunities and building sustainable enterprises.