Fear for future of township businesses amid impact of looting, Covid
The Black Business Federation has expressed concern about the future of the economy of South Africa's townships.
New research revealed that SMMEs constitute 89% of the businesses that were affected during the riots and mass looting last month.
Beyond Covid, a non-profit company, says some businesses will receive support to rebuild.
The federation says most businesses in townships aren't insured.
Sifiso Shezi says some township SMMEs won't qualify for the relief grants because they're not registered.
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"It is so difficult to get at a level where the business was. It takes a lot. We don't have much capital. Even getting the right space and spot takes a lot of resources.
"The looting really destroyed the basic foundation that might have been built over three, four years.
"We are really concerned and we really hope that the government of Gauteng and the government of KZN will come with a tailor-made solution that would really seem to be intervening."
