SAFI members can access tailored funding, support and tools to overcome challenges and grow sustainably.

Financial Solutions for Furniture Manufacturers

Agro-Processing Support Scheme (APPS)

Department of Trade, Industry and Competition – the dtic

Objective: Stimulate investment in South African furniture manufacturing to increase capacity, modernise machinery, and promote competitiveness.

 Benefits:

      • Reimbursable grant: 20% – 30% of investment costs, up to R20 million
      • Additional 10% grant for projects meeting Economic Benefit Criteria

Support For:

      • New machinery and equipment
      • Commercial vehicles
      • Buildings
      • Competitiveness improvement costs

Key Terms:

      • 2-year investment period
      • Final claim submission: 6 months after final milestone
Download Documentation

Furniture Industry Fund (FIF)

National Empowerment Fund – NEF

Objectives:

      • Improve competitiveness
      • Enhance localisation
      • Promote economic inclusion
      • Strengthen partnerships
      • Maintain employment

Funding Details

      • Up to R5 million per transaction
      • Debt or equity funding
      • Interest: 0% – 5%
      • Tenure: up to 84 months

Eligibility

      • Qualifying SMEs
      • Meet NEF’s financial, marketing, technical, and environmental requirements
      • Retain or create jobs

How to Apply

furniturefund@nefcorp.co.za

0861 843 633

Learn More

National Empowerment Fund | Growing Black Economic Participation

Furniture Industry Challenge Fund (FICF)

Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)

Overview: The IDC’s FICF supports qualifying furniture manufacturers to improve competitiveness, survive economic downturns, and promote localisation.

Funding Objectives

      • Improve competitiveness
      • Increase localisation
      • Promote economic inclusion
      • Maintain and increase employment

Funding Uses

      • Capital equipment (capacity increase, modernisation, quality upgrades)
      • Working capital
      • Process and system improvements (efficiency, productivity, quality certification, environmental standards)
email Thabo Moloi

Lean Manufacturing (On-Site Support)

Localisation Support Fund – LSF

Objective: The LSF is offering on-site LEAN manufacturing consulting support to furniture manufacturers. It aims to optimise business processes, minimize waste, and improve efficiencies.

Eligibility

      • Applicants must be South African-based
      • Require industrial research
      • Demonstrate demand for localisation in their product category
      • Provide evidence of local manufacturing capability and capacity

Benefits

      • Improved manufacturing efficiencies
      • Enhanced competitiveness
      • Support for local production and job creation

How to Apply

Download Documentation

Complete and submit the form to info@lsf-sa.co.za

Deadline: Ongoing, subject to thorough due diligence by the LSF.

Manufacturing Support Programme (MSP)

Department of Trade, Industry and Competition – the dtic

Objective: Support South African manufacturers to improve competitiveness, promote transformation, and create jobs, with a focus on empowering previously disadvantaged groups, including Black persons, Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities.

Focus Areas

      1. Competitiveness: Improve operational efficiency.
      2. Green Technology: Adopt resource-efficient practices.
      3. Expansion: Increase production capacity.

Eligibility: South African registered entities in the manufacturing sector (SIC 3).

Benefits

      • Improved competitiveness
      • Job creation
      • Increased localisation
      • Support for transformation and empowerment
Download Documentation

Small Enterprise Finance Agency

Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA)

Overview: SEFA provides financial products and services to qualifying SMMEs and cooperatives in the furniture manufacturing sector.

Direct Lending Products

      1. Asset Finance: Finance business moveable assets (machinery and equipment) up to R15 million.
      2. Term Loan: Purchase other forms of moveable assets (e.g. office furniture) up to R15 million.
      3. Bridging Loan: Short-term loan for working capital (e.g. stock or operating overheads).
      4. Revolving Loan: Line of credit for operating purposes, up to 12 months.

Benefits

      • Acquire equipment without affecting your bank balance
      • Use assets as security for the loan
      • Meet short-term financial obligations
      • Repayments structured around your cash flow projections

Loan Amounts

      • Minimum: R50,000
      • Maximum: R15 million
Download Documentation