South Africa’s small businesses and non-profit organisations remain among the hardest hit by the country’s persistent energy challenges. Unreliable power supply and soaring electricity costs continue to disrupt productivity, drive up operational expenses, and put countless jobs at risk.
A recent survey by Nedbank and the Township Entrepreneurs Alliance (TEA) revealed that 66% of township-based small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) had to shed jobs directly due to load-shedding. Many others reported lost revenue or complete business standstills during blackouts.
Although load-shedding has largely been brought under control, energy challenges remain one of the most significant systemic threats to enterprise growth and inclusive community empowerment. Nedbank, in partnership with enterprise development organisation Indalo Inclusive, has launched the Nedbank Indalo Energy Resilience Fund. This R10 million fund is designed to help SMMEs, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and public benefit organisations (PBOs) in South Africa secure clean, affordable backup power. It provides qualifying organisations interest-free finance to cover the costs of installing solar systems, portable inverters, and related energy infrastructure.
According to Poovi Pillay, Executive Head of Social Impact at Nedbank, the goal is to keep businesses and service organisations up and running during power cuts, while also reducing their reliance on diesel or grid electricity and enabling long-term cost savings. The R10 million pilot will be deployed in 2025, with plans to scale up in 2026 depending on demand and impact.
Pillay says that the fund reflects both a practical response to a pressing national challenge and a deepening of Nedbank’s long-term commitment to partnership-led sustainable development. ‘For entrepreneurs, small businesses, and social organisations, the ongoing energy crisis in South Africa is not just an inconvenience; it’s an existential threat to their very survival,’ he explains. ‘You can’t grow a business, create jobs, or serve a community if the lights are constantly going off – or if the high costs of keeping them on are eroding your bottom line.’
Rest Kanju, Executive Director of Indalo Inclusive, agrees and adds that the fund is intended to go beyond just providing capital for energy infrastructure. ‘Through this fund, we’re using finance, and the accompanying support we provide, as a catalyst to keep businesses productive, protect livelihoods, and speed up the shift to cleaner energy. It’s about enabling resilience in the places where it is needed most,’ he emphasises.
The Nedbank Indalo Energy Resilience Fund builds on the success of the existing Nedbank Indalo Fund, which offers concessionary finance and business development support to eco-inclusive enterprises in sectors such as water, agriculture, waste, and renewable energy. Together, the 2 funds form a core part of Nedbank’s Green Economy Social Impact Strategy, which has supported more than 1 300 businesses and helped create over 2 900 jobs since its launch in 2021.
Indalo Inclusive, which manages the fund in partnership with Nedbank, will oversee implementation, including enterprise selection, capacity-building, and technical support. The organisation brings a proven track record in identifying high-potential businesses and strengthening local ecosystems for inclusive entrepreneurship.
Beyond finance, the Energy Resilience Fund will track key outcomes such as energy savings, operational continuity, job retention, and community impact. It is also designed to be self-sustaining, with repayments from participating enterprises used to fund new recipients over time.
Fund applications are currently open for qualifying SMMEs, NGOs, and PBOs across South Africa.
