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co operative development support programme

Department of Small Business Development

Official source

Source domain: dsbd.gov.za

Collected on 5 August 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

What this means

This document describes South Africa’s Co-Operatives Development Support Programme (CDSP), a programme of the Department of Small Business Development to support registered co-operative enterprises financially and non-financially. It explains the programme’s purpose, legal basis (Co-operatives Act 14 of 2005 and Co-operatives Amended Act 6 of 2013), eligibility requirements for primary and cluster co-operatives, and qualifying interventions for blended finance and feasibility studies. It also sets out funding structure (cost-sharing grant capped at R2.5 million plus a loan), key application requirements, and exclusions/conditions such as not funding certain activities and terminating approval if a legal agreement is not signed within 30 calendar days.

What this document offers

Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.

capacity-building and training supportOngoing

Business Development Support (BDS) for Co-operatives

Co-operatives can access business development support (BDS) as part of the CDSP’s grant funding. This includes training and capacity-building in co-operative governance, business management, and technical skills to improve operational effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

Who it is for
primary co-operatives required to furnish proof of training or experience of members in co-operative governance, business management, and technical training
How to act on it
Apply via the simplified online application form at www.dsbd.gov.za and ensure members have undergone relevant training before submission
Show the line this came from
Expected to furnish proof of training or experience of all members of a primary co-operative in the areas of co-operative governance, business management and technical training in fulfilment of the agreement entered with CDSP.
financial grant and loan packageClosing date not stated

Blended Finance Support (Grant + Loan) for Eligible Co-operatives

The Co-Operatives Development Support Programme offers blended financing to eligible co-operatives through a combination of a grant and a loan. The grant portion is capped at R2.5 million and covers qualifying activities such as machinery, equipment, infrastructure, commercial vehicles, and business development support. The remaining cost is covered by a loan. This support aims to strengthen co-operatives' sustainability and competitiveness.

Who it is for
compliant South African registered co-operatives in any economic sector, especially black-owned co-operatives in rural, township, and peri-urban areas with majority participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities
How to act on it
Apply using the simplified online application form available at www.dsbd.gov.za and submit proof of registration on the National SMME Database at https://smmesa.gov.za
Closes
Closing date not stated in the source
Show the line this came from
The grant support is available for machinery, equipment, infrastructure, commercial vehicles and business development support (BDS) necessary to grow co-operative enterprises to ensure that the co-operative enterprise develop to be more sustainable and competitive.

Facts

Amounts

R 2 500 000

Parties

DSBD may introduce project to municipality

Key Takeaways

  • Programme: Co-Operatives Development Support Programme (CDSP) by DSBD
  • Legal basis: Co-operatives Act 14 of 2005; Co-operatives Amended Act 6 of 2013
  • Target: compliant South African registered co-operatives in economic sectors; priority to black-owned co-operatives, especially rural/township/peri-urban; women, youth, and persons with disabilities
  • Blended finance cost-sharing: DSBD grant up to 50% of total approved amount capped at R2.5 million; remainder via loan
  • Grant support capped at R2.5 million for qualifying activities
  • Grant portion weighting: up to 50% of the debt amount using a Development Impact Scorecard
  • Grant eligibility exclusions: basic/applied research; costs/assets incurred before approval; bonus payments; tendering costs; illicit activities; liquor/cigarettes; gambling; non-business infrastructure; personal-use vehicles; sunk costs; state employees’ co-operatives not funded
  • Legal agreement deadline: must be signed no later than 30 calendar days after receipt of approval letter; otherwise approval may be terminated/cancelled
  • Municipal/IDP integration requirement for infrastructure/services where possible; DSBD may introduce project to municipality if IDP integration not secured
  • Application forms: simplified online application form obtainable from www.dsbd.gov.za; proof of registration on National SMME Database at https://smmesa.gov.za
  • Department of Small Business Development (DSBD)
  • Co-operatives Act, No. 14 of 2005
  • Co-operatives Amended Act, No. 6 of 2013
  • Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)
  • Municipalities
  • Private Sector
  • Central Supplier Database (CSD)
  • National Treasury
  • South African Revenue Service (SARS)
  • Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC)
  • National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO)
  • sefa (risk rating and pricing model)
  • ESKOM
  • Copyright Act, 1978 (Act No. 98 of 1978)
  • Designs Act, 1993 (Act No. 195 of 1993)
  • Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Act, 2013
  • Intellectual Property Law Rationalisation Act, 1996 (Act No. 107 of 1996)