Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [25/05/2020]

The SA government will further ease lockdown regulations from 1 June, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in an address last night.

This, as former M4JAM (money4jam) co-founder Warren Venter is behind a new platform that is helping needy South Africans to pay for food items with a new digital currency.

Those with any news releases relating to Covid-19 and Africa’s tech startup sector can send these to editor@memeburn.com.

With the coronavirus (Covid-19) headlining news all over the world, Ventureburn has launched a regular daily roundup on the virus and how it is affecting Africa’s tech startup sector.

SA will further ease lockdown regulations from 1 June, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last night

Here then is the latest on the coronavirus and African tech startups:

Further opening of SA economy: The SA government will further ease lockdown regulations from 1 June, SA President Cyril Ramaphosa said in an address last night. All retailers, service businesses and other firms will be able to open. Certain businesses will still be prohibited from operating, including: accommodation and domestic air travel (except for business travel); restaurants, bars and taverns (except for delivery or collection of food); those that host conferences, events, entertainment and sporting activities; and personal care services, including hairdressing and beauty services.

Almost 1500 firms get R513m: The Department of Small Business Development‘s SMME Debt Relief Financing Scheme on Saturday was due to close applications for its first window of the SMME Debt Relief Financing Scheme, the government’s news agency SAnews reported in an article on Friday (22 May). A total of R513-million in support was approved for 1497 applications (of a total of 14 451 complete applications). The funding will be disbursed via the government’s Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa). The department said it will publish the names of those firms funded during Window-1 on all its websites as of 29 May.

More small business funding: Applications for the Window-2 of the Department of Small Business Development‘s SMME Debt Relief Financing Scheme, will be available online on https://smmesa.gov.za/ from Wednesday (27 May). The following schemes are available for qualifying entrepreneurs to apply: (a) Small-scale bakeries and confectioneries support scheme; (b) Informal and small-scale clothing and textile support scheme (c) Automotive Aftermarkets Support.

M4JAM co-founder helping needy: Seychelles headquartered tech platform 6DOT50 is helping needy South Africans to pay for food items, with digital currency called Digital Rands. Former M4JAM (money4jam) co-founder Warren Venter and Alfinanz co-founder Marc Tison are behind the platform, which ordinarily focuses on financial inclusion of unbanked and underbanked customers in emerging markets. South Africans can contribute either by using a bank card on-line or by using cash at major retail store outlets and through thousands of Flash traders. A small transaction fee to cover the retailer fees is charged. Venter says the platform has also made it easy for any spaza shops or informal merchants to register and accept Digital Rands as a contactless payment alternative to cash.

Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [22/05/2020]
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Featured image: President Cyril Ramaphosa (GovernmentZA via Flickr)