Cape Town: Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) small business suppliers have achieved access to interest free loans due to the expansion of the Sanlam Group and South African National Parks (SANParks) SMME Support Programme. The SMME support program has been established with an aim to improve inclusivity and broaden economic participation by offering business support and funds to suppliers within 50KM radius of Table Mountain National Park.
Reportedly, the expansion follows the program’s successful implementation in Kruger National Park, Garden Route National Park Route National Park, and more recently, it has also added Addo Elephant National Park.
The initiative, valued at R20 million, provides short-term, interest-free purchase order loans, and allows SMMEs to fulfill their contracts without any upfront capital constraints. The objective is to ease financial pressure and enable these businesses to deliver on contracts effectively. It is a significant support in a country where SMMEs contribute efficiently to the economy, accounting roughly for 40% to GDP, which often struggles with access to affordable finance.
Considering this, Head of Socio-Economic Transformation at SANParks – Skumsa Ntshanga said that by extending the program to Table Mountain National Park, they are reinforcing the commitment to inclusive growth and local empowerment.
He further added that the fund enables small businesses to build capacity, sustain employment, and contribute to socio-economic development in their communities. It also supports Vision 2040, which envisions a thriving balance between nature conservation and human well-being.
The program is implemented by I AM AN ENTREPRENEUR (IAAE) and focuses on SANParks-approved SMMEs, that are operating within a 50 km radius of the park. Exceptionally, in this case, the suppliers located afield may be considered. The zero-interest model helps to ease cash flow constraints, that will enable these enterprises to accept and complete projects without the additional burden of interest-bearing debt.
Chief Transformation Officer at Sanlam – Thandeka Nkambule emphasized the broader goal with this initiative that reflects Sanlam’s commitment to empower generations of Africans to live with confidence.
South Africa is a country where unemployment remains high and accessible to affordable financing, which is a persistent barrier for small businesses, especially in underserved communities, as they see it as their responsibility to help and level the playing field.
Notably, by extending the zero-interest loan program to Table Mountain National Park, they are not just providing funds but also unlocking the potential. These businesses are key drivers of job creation and local development, and with the right support, they can thrive and uplift entire communities.
The program has achieved great milestones till now, such as:
- R19.1 million disbursed across 87 approved MSMEs in Kruger and Garden Route National Parks.
- 34% of funded businesses are women-owned and 37% are youth-owned.
- 193 jobs were retained out of which 69 were permanent and 124 were temporary.
- R2.3 million saved in annualized interest.
- R9.4 million re-invested into MSME operations.
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SUCCESS STORY
One of the first beneficiaries of the program was Sungulani Business Enterprise. It is an Exempt Micro Enterprise (EME) located in Mkhuhlu, 41 km from Skukuza Kruger National Park.
Moreover, the company received a purchase order to supply hardware materials worth R390,247, supported by a zero-interest loan of R311,534.46 from the fund, on 28 March 2024.
According to, Director of Sungulani – Mr. Jerry Sibiya said that the funding came at a critical time, for nine permanent staff. Sanlam’s turnaround time was impressive, and the loan helped them in fulfilling the contract quickly and efficiently that made all the difference.
This expansion into Table Mountain National Park represents another milestone in the journey to empower local businesses, sustain jobs, and support conservation goals through meaningful economic inclusion.