The Seriti Institute has announced that it will assist small businesses that were directly affected by the July civil unrest in Gauteng.
With the support from the Industrial Development Corporation, the institute will recognise small businesses which were affected and help them recover economically.
The Seriti Institute is a non-profit development facilitation agency that focuses on assisting communities and the organisation’s social partners to accomplish their goals.
The non-profit company does this by creating innovative, sustainable, and far-reaching solutions to enhance socio-economic impact. This black-women-led organisation was founded in 2009 with the aim to serve and develop disadvantaged communities.
South Africa’s largest civil unrest since the apartheid regime began on July 8 this year when former president Zuma began serving what was to be his 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court at Estcourt Correctional Centre.
The protests first broke out in KwaZulu-Natal with demonstrators calling for his release. The riots spread throughout the province and led to Gauteng residents also taking to the streets in support of the #FreeJacobZuma campaign.
These demonstrations quickly involved widespread looting and vandalism. The unrest lasted for eight days and left at least 215 people dead and 2 500 arrested.
The South African Property Owners Association evaluated that the unrest cost South Africa's national economy at R50 billion.
KwaZulu-Natal lost R20bn while Gauteng’s economy took a R3.5bn dent. Gauteng saw 30 shopping malls sacked while Kwa-Zulu Natal reported 150.
Your business must meet the following criteria:
1. Be registered [valid municipal permits or other forms of verification of operation before unrest] and have been in operation on 30 June 2021.
2. The business must be in the areas directly affected by the unrest and includes formal and informal traders, social businesses, small retailers, and manufacturing businesses.
3. Businesses must provide proof that they /were are uninsured and/or underinsured.
4. Must be South African-owned Businesses, or those owners with legitimate/valid residential permits.
To apply, request the Expression of Interest form by sending an
e-mail to [email protected]
Enquiries can be directed to Harmony Khoza on [email protected] or call 011 262 7700.
Closing date: 30 November 2021.
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