How to apply for the Imbali For Her entrepreneurs’ programme

Sowetan · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · Aug 10, 2026 · 400 words · By Lindile Sifile

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What to know about How to apply for the Imbali For Her entrepreneurs’ programme

Story audio is generated using AI Women entrepreneurs looking to start, sustain or grow their businesses can apply for the Imbali For Her programme, a flagship initiative of the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (Sedfa).

Claims checked 10

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center86%

Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

The programme was created to promote inclusive economic participation among women by providing financial and non-financial support to qualifying businesses.

Common ground

It was developed in response to challenges women entrepreneurs face when starting and growing sustainable enterprises.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: How to apply for the Imbali For Her entrepreneurs’ programme?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The business must be formally registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-08-10-how-to-apply-for-the-imbali-for-her-en…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

info

Claim 1: “The business must be formally registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission”

SINGLE SOURCE

While general SEDFA programmes (like Asset Assist) require CIPC registration, the provided evidence for 'Imbali For Her' specifically does not explicitly state the CIPC requirement, although it is a standard requirement for formal registration mentioned in the claim.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Bathabile Dlamini (born 10 September 1962) is a South African politician who was the President of the African National Congress (ANC) Women's League from 2015 to 2022. She was previously the Minister …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathabile_Dlamini

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web search NEUTRAL — To transact on this system you must have a valid CIPC customer code. Please note that currently you can only register private and non-profit companies with standard memorandum of incorporation, all ot…
https://eservices.cipc.co.za/

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web search NEUTRAL — Apply for Asset Assist Programme & get up to R250k in grant funding for machinery, equipment & working capital. Closing: 9 Jan 2026.Be South African-owned MSMEs registered with the Companies and Intel…
https://stepapp.co.za/2025/12/04/apply-now-sedfa-asset-assis…

+ 1 more evidence source

help

Claim 2: “Sedfa can be reached at www.sedfa.org.za or call 0860 103 703”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided to verify the website URL or the contact phone number.

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Claim 3: “Qualifying businesses may receive funding of up to R5m, depending on the stage of the enterprise and the outcome of a viability assessment.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources, including LinkedIn and FundingOS | Okhantu, confirm the funding amount of up to R5 million.

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web search NEUTRAL — SEDFA Imbali for Her targets startup, growth, established businesses across South Africa. Applicants need annual turnover below R 20 000 000, at least 51% black ownership, at least 51% women ownership…
https://www.okhantu.co.za/funding/programmes/sedfa-women-emp…

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web search NEUTRAL — Minister of Small Business Development Stella Tembisa Ndabeni officially launched the Imbali For Her Programme on Friday, 15 May 2026, in Kimberley, Northern.
https://southafricatoday.net/business/minister-stella-tembis…

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web search NEUTRAL — The programme provides qualifying businesses with access to blended funding of up to R5 million through loans and grants, supported by mentorship, business development support, training and market acc…
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/eastern-cape-dedeat_imbali-fo…

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Claim 4: “The enterprise must be at least 51% owned by a black woman who is a South African citizen.”

CORROBORATED

FundingOS | Okhantu and other sources specify the requirement of at least 51% black ownership and 51% women ownership.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following lists events that happened during 1986 in South Africa.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_in_South_Africa

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Nandi kaBhebhe (c. 1760 – October 10, 1827) was a daughter of Bhebhe kaLanga, a past Mhlongo chief of Elangeni and the mother of Shaka kaSenzangakhona, King of the Zulus.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandi_(mother_of_Shaka)

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 5: “Imbali For Her supports formally registered women-owned businesses at all stages of development, from early stage start-ups to established small enterprises.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results from FundingOS | Okhantu and other sources confirm the programme targets startup, growth, and established businesses across South Africa.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini (Swazi: [sikʰaɲiso ɮʱamini]; born 1 September 1987) is a Swazi politician and member of the Swazi royal family. She is the eldest daughter of King Mswati III. She served as…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhanyiso_Dlamini

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — António Artur Sanhá (born 1965) is a Bissau-Guinean politician. He was the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau from 28 September 2003 to 10 May 2004 and also served as Secretary-General of the Party for S…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artur_Sanhá

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 6: “The programme offers blended finance, which may include a combination of loans and grants.”

CORROBORATED

LinkedIn and other business grant sources explicitly mention 'blended funding' or 'blended finance' consisting of loans and grants.

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web search NEUTRAL — Imbali For Her-The Imbali For Her Programme is a women-focused funding and business support initiative established by SEDFA to empower black women-owned businesses across South Africa. The programme o…
https://dtcapital.co.za/business-grants/

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web search NEUTRAL — SEDFA Imbali for Her is a loan from Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency offering up to R 5 000 000 for startup, growth, established businesses across South Africa. Applications are accepte…
https://www.okhantu.co.za/funding/programmes/sedfa-women-emp…

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Claim 7: “Women entrepreneurs looking to start, sustain or grow their businesses can apply for the Imbali For Her programme, a flagship initiative of the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (Sedfa).”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web sources confirm that Imbali For Her is a flagship programme launched by the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (Sedfa) and the Department of Small Business Development.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Xhosa ( KOH-sə, Xhosa: [ᵏǁʰôːsa] ), formerly spelled Xosa and also known by its local name isiXhosa, is a Bantu language, indigenous to Southern Africa and one of the official languages of South Afric…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xhosa_language

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web search NEUTRAL — The Department of Small Business Development described Imbali For Her as a flagship national programme aimed at promoting inclusive economic participation among women through integrated financial and …
https://dfa.co.za/news/2026-05-18-r897-million-womens-enterp…

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web search NEUTRAL — The Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency and the Department of Small Business Development have launched a new R300 million initiative aimed at supporting women-owned businesses across South…
https://startupmag.co.za/2026/05/government-launches-r300-mi…

+ 1 more evidence source

help

Claim 8: “Applications must be submitted through Sedfa’s approved online application platform.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided regarding the specific application platform or method.

info

Claim 9: “This includes tax compliance with the South African Revenue Service and compliance with broad-based black economic empowerment, Unemployment Insurance Fund and Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act requirements.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of Chrome Web Store help pages, which are completely irrelevant to SARS, B-BBEE, UIF, or COIDA compliance.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Chrome Web Store Curation and Reviews The Chrome Web Store aims to help Chrome users easily find Chrome items (themes, extensions, and apps) to customize their browser. Curation and Ranking Before ins…
https://support.google.com/chrome_webstore/answer/12225786?h…

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web search NEUTRAL — For additional protection when you install a new extension from the Chrome Web Store, you can use Safe Browsing's Enhanced protection. If you enable Enhanced protection in Chrome, it warns you when an…
https://support.google.com/chrome_webstore/answer/2664769?hl…

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web search NEUTRAL — Official Chrome Web Store Help Center where you can find tips and tutorials on using Chrome Web Store and other answers to frequently asked questions.
https://support.google.com/chrome_webstore/?hl=en

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Claim 10: “The programme is open to women entrepreneurs operating in all economic sectors across South Africa, including urban, peri-urban, township and rural areas.”

CORROBORATED

Evidence from South Africa Today explicitly states the programme is accessible to women entrepreneurs across the country, specifically mentioning rural, township, and disabled women.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following lists events that happened during 1986 in South Africa.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_in_South_Africa

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.