The Minister of Employment and Labour, Ms. Nomakhosazana Meth and Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr. Zuko Godlimpi will on Friday, 25 September 2026, launch the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and National Empowerment Fund (NEF) R1 Billion partnership aimed at directly stimulating enterprise growth to create 30,000 jobs.
The event will take place at Langhams Fourways, Johannesburg, under the theme; “Investing in Enterprises. Advancing Employment. Driving Transformation.” As part of government efforts, working together with various partners to find solutions to the high unemployment rate, a monumental R1 billion partnership with NEF is a massive capital injection designed to advance employment, drive transformation, and empower SMMEs.
The combined investment is a major economic intervention that seeks to expand access to finance, support business sustainability, advance B-BBEE objectives and strengthen development finance collaboration. We invite your newsroom to cover this landmark event, where the architects of this partnership will unpack how this combined R500 million investment from each entity will be deployed.
The launch forms part of the build-up activities towards the upcoming Job Summit.
Members of the media are invited to the event as follows:
Date: Friday, 25 September 2026
Time: 11:00 – 14:00
Venue: Langhams Lifestyle Estate, 1 Tamchele Avenue, Off Robert Bruce Road (William Nicol Road) Beverly, Fourways, Johannesburg
The Agenda and Interview Opportunities:
The launch will formally introduce the partnership and provide a platform for direct engagement with the Ministers, UIF and NEF leadership on the impact and roll-out of the partnership.
RSVP:
Sean Mmatladi
Cell: 072 120 5055
E-mail: sean.mmatladi@labour.gov.za
Gift Makhubela
Cell: 072 187 8895
E-mail: gift.makhubela@labour.gov.za
Enquiries:
Ms. Thobeka Magcai
Ministry Spokesperson
E-mail: Thobeka.Magcai@Labour.gov.za
Cell: 072 737 2205
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