07 Jul 2021

Young people have been encouraged to apply for the Youth Development Fund (YDF) before the August 10 deadline. 

An official from the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA), Ms Keitseng Moinarubi, said to qualify for the programme, one should have a registered company. 

She explained that the registration process was easy and accessible online for anyone to register without visiting CIPA offices.

Ms Moinarubi advised those in a rush to register companies to engage secretaries to do the registration on their behalf.

“We have a once off application online that takes 24 hours to confirm the company name and provide certification,” she stated.

The cost of the application, she said, was P380, after which one would obtain a certificate that would enable him/her to start the YDF application process. 

“Online step by step guidelines are provided to assist every applicant from creating an account, registration as well as payments,” she added. 

 Ms Moinarubi said one can choose to pay through credit or debit card as well as paying at government revenue offices. 

She advised members of the public to ensure that the secretaries they engage also have registered companies to avoid falling into frauAs with membership of accountants accrediting institutions such as Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA). 

“They can easily do the entire process for you and all you have to do is pay them the required amount,” she said, adding that secretaries also come in handy in handling annual returns to ensure that company details and payments stay up to date.

Ms Moinarubi advised those who do not fully understand the process to contact CIPA offices or engage qualified company secretaries. ENDS