The Women Empowerment Fund is a funding scheme provided by the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) who's  role is to support Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE).

Women Empowerment Fund (WEF)

The NEF Women Empowerment Fund is aimed at accelerating the provision of funding to businesses owned by black women. The funding starts from R250 000 to R75 million across a range of sectors, for start-ups, expansions and equity acquisition purposes.

Funding requirements:

• Minimum of 51% black female ownership.
• Operational involvement at the managerial and board levels by black women.
• Commercial viability of the business case being presented.
• Compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.
• Ability of the business to repay WEF funding.
• Creation of jobs.
• Geographic location of the business is also important with the focus on rural or economically depressed areas encouraged.
• Possibility of co-funding with private or public sector institutions is encouraged in larger projects.
• For property transactions, at least 51% of the annual expenditure of the business to be allocated to majority black-owned businesses

How to apply

Download Application Form

Please note:

• Required documents are listed in the application form.
• Regrettably, if you do not submit all of these documents together there will be a delay in processing your application form.
• From receipt of the application to approval stage the process can take 6 to 8 weeks.
• Our process period is 3 to 4 months on receipt of the application up to  disbursement stage.

Send applications to: applications@nefcorp.co.za

Contact us

For enquiries visit or contact your nearest office:

Gauteng Province (Head Office)
West Block, 187 Rivonia Road, Morningside 2057, PO Box 31, Melrose Arch, Melrose North 2076

Tel: +27 (11) 305 8000 

Fax: +27 (11) 305 8001

Call Centre: 0861 843 633 | 0861 (THE NEF)

Email (Applications): applications@nefcorp.co.za

Email (General Enquiries): info@nefcorp.co.za

Eastern Cape Province
7b Derby Road, Berea, East London 5241
Tel: (043) 783 4200 | 0861 NEF ECP (0861 633 327)

Fax: 0861 ECP NEF (0861 327 633)
Email: easterncape@nefcorp.co.za

Free State Province
34 Fountain Towers, Corner Zastron and Markgraaf Street, Westdene, Bloemfontein, 9300
Tel: (051) 407 6360 | 0861 NEF FSP (0861 633 377)

Fax: 0861 FSP NEF (0861 377 633)
Email: freestate@nefcorp.co.za

KwaZulu-Natal Province
Smart X - Change Building, 5 Walnut Road, Durban, 4001
Tel: (031) 301 1960 | 0861 NEF KZN (0861 633 596)

Fax: 0861 KZN NEF (0861 596 633)
Email: kzn@nefcorp.co.za

Limpopo Province
Suite 8, Biccard Park, 43 Biccard Street, Polokwane 0699
Tel: (015) 294 9200 | 0861 NEF LIM (0861 633 546)

Fax: 0861 LIM NEF (0861 546 633)
Email: limpopo@nefcorp.co.za

Mpumalanga Province
Trust Building, 16 Brander Street, Nelspruit, 1200
Tel: (013) 754 9860 | 0861 NEF MPU (0861 633 678) | 013 754 9860

Fax: 0861 MPU NEF (0861 678 633)
Email: mpumalanga@nefcorp.co.za

North West Province
32B Heystek Street, Sunetco Office Park, Ground Floor, Rustenburg, 0299
Tel: (014) 523 9220 | 0861 NEF NWP (0861 633 697)

Fax: 0861 NWP NEF (0861 697 633)
Email: northwest@nefcorp.co.za

Western Cape Province
Suite 2818, 28th Floor, ABSA Centre, 2 Riebeek Street, Cape Town 8001
Tel: (021) 431 4760 | 0861 NEF WCP (0861 633 927)
Fax: 0861 WCP NEF (0861 927 633) 

Email: westerncape@nefcorp.co.za