On Friday 23rd August 2019 sefa in partnership with Small Business Development Department & Pick n Pay launched successfully another market store in Bophelong in Vanderbijlpark.

This was a 3rd store in which the partners have launched this financial year as part of the initiative to revitalise township economy

Olas Market Store was funded to the tune of R 4, 9 million by sefa as part of supporting Pick n Pay’s township initiative to give entrepreneurs an opportunity to run supermarkets stores

The Department of Small Business Development Department and Pick n Pay have been supporting this project for a lot longer and 20 of these stores have been opened across South Africa. But sefa only just got involved with these stores beginning of this financial year and there is a plan to accelerate the program.

R60 million has been set aside for the current financial year 2019/20. The Department of Small Business Development commits a grant critical in ensuring that entrepreneurs have the resources required by this kind of store.

The event was held at Bophelong Ext 9 and graced by the Deputy Minister of Trade & Industry Mr Fikile Majola as well as the Executive Mayor of Emfuleni Municipality Mr Gift Moerane.

The excited community members of Bophelong cleared the shelves as soon as the store was officially launched.

“We are committed as sefa to support entrepreneurs in the townships to acquire these stores so they create jobs and play more meaningful economic roles”, says Ms Tumi Sefolo ,Executive Manager for Direct Lending