Meet Ms Siphiwe Ntombela, who is one of the recipients of the North West Covid-19 Relief Fund for informal traders. Ms. Ntombela is a vendor in Klerksdorp who sells snacks, sweets, face masks and more.

She started trading in 1999, then only selling peanuts and cigarettes. She now has three tables along the street and she also ventured into clothing and accessories, for which she intends to use the grant to purchase more stock.

Ms Ntombela has received her relief funds and had the following message to MEC Mosenogi and her team. “Thank you for your intervention MEC, we are happy that you think about us street vendors and please don’t forget us”.

You can visit Siphiwe and other traders, at O R Tambo Street in the Klerksdorp CBD (entrance of Matlosana municipality building) and in doing so support local vendors.

The Relief Fund project status by 21 September 2020 – In addition to the informal grants, formal applications are currently being captured with many applicants already having received their reference numbers. Adjudication of the formal applications is the next step, which will commence once all formal applications have been captured on the system.

Covid-19 Relief Fund applicants who require more information are encouraged to call the North West Covid-19 Relief Fund call centre on 017 422 0116.

As long as you have a reference number, please be assured that your application will be dealt with. Some applications are still being captured manually, after which reference numbers will be issued.