Noxolo Mshweshwe Founder | SkillMzansi Young South Africans looking to start or grow a business have a new opportunity to access funding and business support following the launch of the Peo Pele Youth Fund by the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD).

Launched during the Department's Youth Day Commemoration in QwaQwa, Free State, the fund forms part of the government's ongoing efforts to expand economic opportunities for young people by improving access to finance, business development support, mentorship, and markets.

The initiative recognises that while many young people have entrepreneurial potential, they often face barriers such as limited access to funding, business skills, and opportunities to grow sustainable enterprises.

Who is Offering the Opportunity?

The Peo Pele Youth Fund is an initiative of the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and is administered by the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA).

The fund builds on previous youth entrepreneurship programmes and has been designed to provide more comprehensive support to young entrepreneurs by combining affordable finance with practical business development services.

The launch coincided with the Department's Youth Day Commemoration, marking 50 years since the 1976 Youth Uprising. While honouring the sacrifices of previous generations, the event also focused on the next frontier of freedom—economic participation, entrepreneurship, and business ownership for South Africa's youth.

What is the Peo Pele Youth Fund?

The Peo Pele Youth Fund is a revitalised youth entrepreneurship support programme aimed at helping young entrepreneurs establish, sustain, and grow their businesses.

Rather than offering funding alone, the programme provides a package of support that includes:

Access to affordable business finance

Business development support

Mentorship and technical assistance

Market access opportunities

Entrepreneur support throughout different stages of business growth

According to the Department, the fund is intended to support entrepreneurs from the idea stage through to businesses that are ready to expand and create employment.

Funding will be offered at Prime less 2%, making it more accessible for qualifying youth-owned businesses.

Who Can Apply?

The Department has indicated that the Peo Pele Youth Fund is intended for young South African entrepreneurs seeking to start, sustain, or grow their businesses.

While full eligibility requirements are expected to be published separately, the programme is designed to support youth-owned enterprises across different stages of development.

SkillMzansi will update this article as soon as the official application criteria and qualifying requirements are released.

Opportunity Details

The launch formed part of a broader Youth Month programme hosted across the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality in the Free State.

Activities included:

A Youth Enterprise Readiness Campaign featuring practical entrepreneurship training.

Skills development workshops covering areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, baking and confectionery, nail technology, and wig making.

An Informal Micro Enterprise Development Programme (IMEDP) equipment handover.

A Youth Enterprise Walk promoting economic empowerment.

A Youth Imbizo led by the Minister of Small Business Development.

A Market Village showcasing youth-owned businesses and entrepreneurship support programmes.

Mobile government and financial services providing access to entrepreneurship support.

The government expects the Peo Pele Youth Fund to contribute to sustainable youth-owned businesses while supporting the creation and preservation of approximately 1,500 jobs.

How to Apply

At the time of publication, the Department of Small Business Development has officially launched the Peo Pele Youth Fund, but detailed application guidelines have not yet been published.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to monitor official announcements from the Department of Small Business Development and the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) for information on:

Opening dates

Eligibility requirements

Required supporting documents

Application procedures

Funding windows

SkillMzansi will also update this article once official application details become available.

Before You Apply

If you are considering applying once applications open, now is a good time to prepare by:

Developing or refining your business idea.

Preparing a basic business plan.

Organising any business registration documents, where applicable.

Gathering financial records if your business is already operating.

Thinking about how funding would help your business grow and create opportunities.

Being prepared before applications open can make the process much smoother.

A Note from the Founder

At SkillMzansi, we believe entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful ways to create opportunities—not only for yourself, but for your community as well.

Access to funding is important, but successful businesses are built on knowledge, preparation, and persistence. Whether you're launching your first business or growing an existing one, take the time to strengthen your skills, understand your market, and build a solid foundation.

We'll continue sharing opportunities like the Peo Pele Youth Fund as more information becomes available, so be sure to check back regularly for updates.

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