What we do
We’re here to rescue, revive and recover.
Our cause
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy.
They’re run by entrepreneurs with grit and determination… people of integrity who play by the rules, pay their taxes and create jobs.
Yet they’re vulnerable in a crisis.
When Covid-19 hit, South Africa’s small businesses were the hardest hit. Many couldn’t earn an income for the duration of lockdown. Thousands of businesses were threatened with closure. They needed funds urgently – to remain in business, pay employees, and cover the basics for survival.
Emergency relief
The Sukuma Fund was established within days of lockdown with an initial R1 billion donation from the Rupert Family and Remgro Limited. Since then, thanks to further charitable donations, the fund has grown by tens of millions of rands.
Our goal is to rescue and revive thousands of small businesses across the country – preserving jobs and supporting the people who depend on them.
These small businesses will play an essential role in our country’s economic recovery when the pandemic is over.
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Now it’s our turn to look after them.
A unique innovation: Paying it forward
This is a long-term project. We intend to become a permanent relief fund for small businesses, able to assist South African small businesses in future crises.
- Interest and capital repayments will provide funding for new loans to small businesses hit by emergencies or disaster.
- Repayments will allow us to become a continuous emergency relief scheme, on the basis of ‘paying it forward’, helping others after you have been helped.
- This unique South African innovation has already attracted interest from other countries who hope to copy or adapt it.
Sukuma stands for the timeless principles of all rescue missions: Humanity, Impartiality, Independence, Unity and Neutrality.