Growth Gateway: South Africa SMME JET Deal Accelerator – blueprint for scaling SMMEs in Mpumalanga (summary)
Published 19 August 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/growth-gateway-south-africa-smme-jet-deal-accelerator/growth-gateway-south-africa-smme-jet-deal-accelerator-blueprint-for-scaling-smmes-in-mpumalanga-summary
South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET) must accelerate decarbonisation while supporting inclusive economic growth. Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) are central to this transition. They employ about 66% of South Africa’s workforce and have the potential to anchor new green and diversified value chains, particularly in Mpumalanga, where the transition away from coal is most concentrated.
Drawing on data from the Growth Gateway SMME JET Deal Accelerator, the paper identifies 6 systemic barriers preventing high-potential SMMEs from scaling or securing funding. These include limited investment readiness, investor-SMME misalignment, execution bottlenecks, fragmented ecosystem support, limited feedback and data sharing, and a challenging operating environment. Women-led SMMEs face additional barriers to finance, networks, and participation.
The paper sets out 6 ecosystem shifts to strengthen SMME growth and investment. These include linking support to real market demand, bringing investors in early, tailoring support to local conditions and expanding blended and concessional finance. It also proposes the Mpumalanga SMME Growth Hub as an on-the-ground platform connecting SMMEs to markets, capital and technical support. The model combines tailored technical assistance, investor matching and market access, with targeted support for women-led SMMEs through stronger investor networks, gender-responsive financing and peer support.