POLITICS

R27m Business Relief Fund for small businesses – Alan Winde

WCape Premier says fund aimed at supporting small businesses in both informal and formal sector

Media Release: Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

22 September 2020

As of 1pm on 22 September, the Western Cape has 2501 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 108 900 confirmed cases and 102 266 recoveries.

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases

108 900

Total recoveries

102266

Total deaths

4133

Total active cases (currently infected patients)

2501

Tests conducted

519366

Hospitalisations

624 with 124 in ICU or high care

Cape Metro Sub-districts:

 Sub-district

Cases

 

Recoveries

Western

9537

 9009

Southern

9805

 9166

Northern

6753

6435

Tygerberg

13431

 12717

Eastern

10298

 9675

Klipfontein

9233

 8570

Mitchells Plain

8659

 8178

Khayelitsha

8364

 7879

Total

76080

71629

Sub-districts:

 District

 Sub-district

Cases

Recoveries

Garden Route

Bitou

608

579

Garden Route

Knysna

1477

1381

Garden Route

George

3519

3297

Garden Route

Hessequa

311

285

Garden Route

Kannaland

112

109

Garden Route

Mossel Bay

2340

2208

Garden Route

Oudsthoorn

1395

1216

Cape Winelands

Stellenbosch

2080

1953

Cape Winelands

Drakenstein

4355

4114

Cape Winelands

Breede Valley

3441

3245

Cape Winelands

Langeberg

1145

1083

Cape Winelands

Witzenberg

1610

1505

Overberg

Overstrand

1604

1531

Overberg

Cape Agulhas

285

264

Overberg

Swellendam

336

306

Overberg

Theewaterskloof

1184

1107

West Coast

Bergrivier

435

402

West Coast

Cederberg

167

156

West Coast 

Matzikama

479

368

West Coast

Saldanha Bay Municipality

1372

1306

West Coast

Swartland

1597

1475

Central Karoo

Beaufort West

686

524

Central Karoo

Laingsburg

140

126

Central Karoo

Prince Albert

30

23

Unallocated: 2112 (2074 recovered)

Data note: It is not always possible to check and verify that the address data supplied for each new recorded case is correct, within the time frames required to provide regular and timely updates. This means that in some instances, cases could be allocated to the wrong sub-districts. We are working with the sub-districts to clean and verify the data and where errors are picked up locally, cases will be re-allocated to the correct areas. 

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 13 deaths bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 4133. We send our condolences to their family and friends at this time.

R27 million Business Relief Fund for small businesses:

Earlier today, Minister David Maynier announced a R27 million Business Relief Fund which is aimed at supporting small businesses in both the informal and the formal sector, which have been impacted by the Covid-19 restrictions.

The fund will provide financial assistance in the form of a financial grant to businesses who can apply to either the formal or informal business category. The grant will be used exclusively to subsidise business expenses such as fixed costs, operational costs, supplier debt and other pressure cost items.

The lockdown has had a significant impact on businesses across the province and we know that this time has been a particularly difficult time for small businesses, in both the formal and in the informal sector. 

The Western Cape Government has committed to focusing on jobs, dignity and safety in our recovery and the announcement of this relief funding will support job-creating small businesses at a time when we must do everything to save jobs.

I encourage small businesses who have been impacted by the lockdown to apply for this grant. You can do this by visiting:https://www.westerncape.gov.za/general-publication/western-cape-c-19-business-relief-fund

Sanitary Dignity Project:

The Department of Social Development, under the leadership of Minister Sharna Fernandez, also launched the Sanitary Dignity Project today. The first delivery phase started on Friday and so far, almost 2 million pads have been delivered to approximately 90 000 learners in 221 schools across the province.

In line with our data-led approach to governance, the Department analysed school attendance and retention rates for learners in grades 4 to 12 in quintile 1-5 schools to identify participating schools. Both no-fee and paid schools have been chosen, with a particular focus on schools in rural areas, and special needs schools.

It is important to us as a government as we plot our post-Covid recovery, that the people of this province live with dignity. The provision of sanitary hygiene products to learners, addresses a basic human need, while at the same time addressing stigma, promoting learner well-being and removing a potential barrier to learning.

Issued by Western Cape Office of the Premier, 22 September 2020