Written by Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa now have access to a major opportunity for growth and support via the African Bank MSME Capacity Building Programme 2026. This 12-month comprehensive initiative is designed to boost business fundamentals, improve competitiveness and offer market access — helping SMEs overcome structural challenges and scale sustainably.
Whether you run an ICT company, a green-economy startup, a manufacturing concern, retail business, or a services venture, this programme could help sharpen your operations, connect you to networks, and prepare you for growth.
What the Programme Offers (Benefits)
- Tailored mentorship and capacity building — training in strategic planning, financial management, operational excellence, and business readiness.
- Access to markets and networks — through African Bank’s ecosystem and partner networks, helping businesses reach new clients, customers, or suppliers.
- Business diagnostics & improvement planning — help to identify weaknesses, gaps, and opportunities, with actionable strategies to improve performance.
- Workshops and training in key business competencies — including marketing, compliance, financial literacy, digital transformation, and operations management.
- Support for sustainable growth, not just short-term funding — the 12-month duration allows SMEs to embed changes and build resilience.
Who Can Apply / Eligibility Criteria
Your business must meet ALL the following requirements to qualify:
- Business must be at least 51% Black-owned.
- Owners must be South African citizens aged 18 or older.
- Owners must be full-time entrepreneurs — you should not be formally employed elsewhere (public or private) when applying.
- The enterprise must provide legal products or services (i.e. not in restricted industries such as tobacco, alcohol, or illicit goods).
- Commitment to the full 12-month programme duration.
Eligible Sectors
The programme accepts a wide variety of industries, including but not limited to:
- ICT / Technology & Digital Services
- Green Economy / Sustainability / Agri-processing
- Manufacturing, Retail (FMCG), Franchising
- Health & Wellness, Services / Consulting, Marketing & Advertising
- Construction / Building / Power & Energy / Automotive / Events Management / Fashion & Textile and more
The programme also encourages businesses owned by persons with disabilities to apply, underlining its inclusive mandate.
Application Window & How to Apply
- Applications open: 24 November 2025
- Application deadline: 05 December 2025
- How to apply: Go to the official portal on — submit personal info, business registration, income/revenue details, number of employees, business sector, and ownership information.
Documents required include registration certificate, ID copies, proof of BBBEE (or equivalent Black-ownership certification), tax compliance documents, and basic financial statements.