The Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) and the North West Development Corporation confirms that pay-outs to successful applicants of the NW Covid-19 Relief Fund has commenced.

The first round of weekly disbursements to informal applicants took place on Thursday, 10 September 2020. The first week saw recipients in Montshioa receive their pay-outs from MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi (pictured left).  To mark the second week of pay-outs to the informal sector, staff of  DEDECT, NWDC and Standard Bank conducted a ground outreach programme on Thursday, 17 September 2020 to disburse relief funding to recipients in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District when they visited the Matlosana City Local Municipality and engaged with fund recipients.

Starting from Thursday, 10 September 2020, weekly pay-outs to informal applicants will continue until all informal sector applicants who have applied, have received their Covid-19 Relief Fund grant.

Due to the high number of informal business applications received, the DEDECT MEC Mosenogi made the call that all informal businesses who have applied for the grant must be assisted, hence the flat rate of R2 500 for informal disbursement.

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.

An aftercare training programme for fund applicants is being developed by the North West Development Corporation in consultation with DEDECT, which will further empower the SMMEs of the North West Province.

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.