02 Mar 2016

One of the primary objectives of the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) is to assist businesses, enterprises and citizens that contribute towards the objectives of economic diversification, employment creation, citizen economic empowerment, and poverty alleviation through development and poverty alleviation through development of viable and sustainable citizen enterprises.

“This includes entities that foster the spirit and principle of Ipelegeng,” said the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Vincent Seretse. He said CEDA gravitates towards supporting priorities mentioned above and not towards domestic consumption.

The Member of Parliament for Jwaneng-Mabule, Mr Shawn Nthaile had asked the minister if he was aware that the Jwaneng Savings and Credit Cooperative Society  (SACCOS) was struggling to get a mortgage loan for which they qualify from CEDA.

He also wanted the minister to state why CEDA was not assisting Jwaneng SACCOS with the loan, and why the loan application was withheld for almost two years. Mr Nthaile also wanted to know why CEDA was always changing goal posts and coming up with new grounds on the case.

Although he said he was constrained to respond to the question as he did not wish to discuss applicant’s details to avoid breaking the confidentiality of the client/CEDA relationship, Mr Seretse said the Jwaneng SACCOS application was received on July 25, 2014 and considered by the board of directors on September 23 the same year.

The minister further advised that all applicants who may be dissatisfied by the decisions taken by the CEDA management should follow the CEDA appeals process. Ends