Co-operative Development Support Programme — Kayzi
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Co-operative Development Support Programme

100% non-repayable grant for registered co-operatives. One of the few fully non-repayable programmes at this funding scale.

FundingUp to R1,500,000 (start-up) / R2,500,000 (expansion)
TypeNon-repayable grant (100%)
FunderDepartment of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic)
DeadlineRolling (applications through dtic regional offices)
Overview

This programme is rare: a 100% non-repayable grant at meaningful scale. But the gate is equally rare — the business must be a formally registered co-operative under the Co-operatives Act 2005. A group of friends running a business together does not qualify. A legally registered co-operative does.

The grant covers machinery, equipment, infrastructure, and working capital for qualifying co-operatives. Majority black membership and compliance with co-operative principles (democratic governance, shared benefit) are non-negotiable.

Kayzi Advisory NoteProtect this for genuine co-operatives. The 100% grant structure is the best non-repayable deal in the SA SME ecosystem at this scale. Do not surface it for businesses that simply have multiple founders.
Key Focus Areas

Contextual Fit · Founder Readiness · Business Substance

Who qualifies
  • Registered as a formal co-operative under the Co-operatives Act 2005
  • Majority black membership (51%+)
  • Operates according to co-operative principles: democratic governance, shared benefit
  • Members committed to mandatory co-operative training
  • South African citizens only
  • Has not received funding from other government programmes for the same activity
Who does not qualify
  • Not a formally registered co-operative (informal groups or partnerships do not qualify)
  • Non-black majority membership
  • Already received government funding for the same business activity
  • Sunk costs — requesting reimbursement for expenses already incurred
  • Members unwilling to participate in mandatory training
  • Co-operative not operating according to democratic governance principles
Common rejection reasonNot a registered co-operative; non-black membership majority; activities already funded elsewhere; sunk cost reimbursement requests.
Key requirements

Co-operative registration certificate (Co-operatives Act 2005), proof of black majority membership, signed member agreements, co-operative constitution, business plan with use of funds breakdown, and training commitment from all members.

How to apply

Apply through the dtic regional offices. The SEDA (Small Enterprise Development Agency) also assists co-operatives with applications and registration.

Visit thedtic.gov.za or contact SEDA at seda.org.za for guidance on co-operative registration and funding applications.

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