Western Cape Government Welcomes Jobs Fund Application Process Re-Opening

Media Statement by Alan Winde, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism

The Western Cape Government is pleased that the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) has issued a second call for applications for funding from National Treasury's R9 billion Jobs Fund.

According to DBSA, the Jobs Fund will be open for applications from public, private, as well as non-governmental organisations, for the submission of innovative proposals to facilitate job creation.

Applications will be open from Monday, 2 April, and will remain open for eight weeks until 31 May 2012.

The Western Cape Government welcomes the announcement of the second round of applications by DBSA. During the last round of applications, the Western Cape Government submitted proposals for funding for 19 special projects within the Department of Economic Development and Tourism as well as other provincial departments. Of the 19 submitted, four have been selected to go to the second round of deliberations. These projects have a total funding requirement of R214.5 million and the potential to create 1 876 jobs.

The Western Cape Government intends on submitting even more applications for funding for initiatives targeted at creating employment opportunities in our province. We implore individuals, businesses and NGOs in the Western Cape to submit proposals to the DBSA. Job creation is the responsibility of not only government, but also individuals, business and civil society. It is only when we work better together that the Western Cape's unemployment figures will be reduced."