19 Feb 2025

Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Tiroeaone Ntsima has apprised Parliament that there are no administrative or procedural requirements that impede accessibility of Project Facilitation Fund (PFF).

Answering questions from MP for Selebi Phikwe West, Me Reuben Kaizer in Parliament, he said in addition to an applicant being a citizen and submitting a bankable proposal, they should also adhere to selection criteria.

The selection criteria, he said were to ensure that the fund was used for its intended purpose being support of high impact project with potential to contribute significantly to the economy.

Mr Ntsima said PFF process was public, accessible and was administered by Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) and Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), with LEA being designated point of entry for applications for assistance.

“The selection criteria/PFF guidelines is readily available to the public as well as on the CEDA website,” he said.

Furthermore, he said the minimum loan under PFF was P5 000, while maximum was P200 000,  the facility being 50 per cent grant and 50 per cent loan, hence it was important for the facility to be directed towards those whose projects would have the requisite impact and those who need the facility the most.

Parliament also learnt that target market for PFF was youth.

MP for Selebi Phikwe West Mr Kaizer had asked the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship about the accessibility of the Project Facilitation Fund (PFF) under Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA).

He had asked the minister to outline the eligibility criteria for accessing the PFF administered by CEDA and specify whether these criteria are made readily available to the public.

Mr Kaizer had also asked the minister the specific obstacles limiting public access to the fund and to clarify whether administrative or procedural requirements within CEDA may inadvertently exclude or disadvantage aspiring entrepreneurs seeking pre funding support through the Project Facilitation Fund (PFF). ENDS