Context & Opportunity

South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET) requires large-scale energy transformation alongside targeted investment in high-risk regions. With the highest emissions intensity among major economies, unemployment above 40%, and deepening inequality, delivering the transition will depend on directing investment towards vulnerable communities and transition-affected regions.​

SMMEs1 are central to inclusive green growth, but financing and readiness gaps constrain their role. SMMEs can drive employment at significantly higher rates than larger firms, yet face persistent barriers to finance, including misalignment with investor mandates, limited concessional capital, fragmented support, and weak demand-side readiness.​

Growth Gateway supported investment into JET-aligned SMMEs through targeted business support, investor engagement, and ecosystem coordination. The intervention sourced and connected early-stage SMMEs with investors, strengthened investment readiness for high-potential businesses, and worked with financiers to co-develop funding approaches aligned to SMME needs. It also introduced a Call for Proposals to deploy concessional capital and partnered with JET-PMU, MGCA, and Indalo Inclusive to design and pilot a Mpumalanga SMME Growth Hub.​

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Support Provided

Accelerated SMME Deal Flow And Investor Matching

Worked with government, investors, and incubators to identify and connect JET-aligned SMMEs with investors

• Developed a database of 720+ SMMEs across phases 1–5 to expand the pipeline
• Assessed investment-ready SMMEs to support prioritisation and matching
• Facilitated investor engagement through targeted outreach, including site visits in Mpumalanga and newspaper advertising

Provided Targeted Support To Strengthen Investment Readiness

Supported high-potential SMMEs to improve readiness and engage investors

• ​Provided tailored support, including investor-grade pitch decks, market research, deal advisory, and leadership coaching
• Supported SMMEs through due diligence and investor engagement to progress commercial discussions
• Supported ProfitShare Partners (an innovative fintech) raise funding for working capital finance to SMMEs in Mpumalanga

Designed And Piloted The Mpumalanga SMME Growth Hub

Tested a coordinated model to connect SMMEs with funding and technical support

• •Designed and piloted the Mpumalanga SMME Growth Hub to connect SMMEs with funding and technical assistance
• Developed core components, including a resource library and two standardised support modules
• Tested and piloted a virtual SMME Growth Hub, engaging partners and funders to support transition to a physical accelerator

Impact Achieved

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