The Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa) has approved payment worth R513 million for small businesses whose finances have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Since the opening of Small, Medium and Macro Enterprises (SMMEs) Debt Relief Financing Scheme, Sefa has received 35 865 applications of which 14 451 were fully completed whereas 21 414 were incomplete and they were referred to Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) for assistance with the applications," the Department of Small Business Development said on Friday.

Of the 14 451 complete applications, Sefa has approved 1 497 applications worth R513 million.

However in the Free State SEFA, SEDA and NEF have received thousands of applicants. But none of the applicants have been approved. Free State Treasury has allocated tenders for R8 million to a handful of companies during Covid. Free State Treasury refuses to publish the list of companies that were appointed and criteria used.

SMMEs who have applied for relief fund have received e-mails indicating that the closure of the scheme. We request Treasury to publish list of the companies who got relief, criteria use and the amount they were given.