PRESS RELEASE

February 19, 2004

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BANKSETA MICRO FINANCE SKILLS PROJECT ON THE ROLL

The BANKSETA Micro Finance Skills Project, which has expanded its focus to include individual and SMME consumers of micro-finance institutions (MFIs), is continuing to produce innovative and high-quality training for the sector.

Initiated in 2002, the project is currently active in five provinces: Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Mpumalanga. In the initial phase of training, 277 staff and owners of micro-lending businesses received training. During the current phase of training, a further 240 MFI staffers have already been trained. The project has also selected and trained 63 intermediaries who will conduct training for individual and SMME borrowers.

“We have always believed that the success of this project would lie in the real value it provides to the sector. We can only ensure that if there is constant evaluation and input from the people we are trying to reach – the micro-finance institutions who are participating or should be participating in the training,” said BANKSETA general secretary Richard Plant.

“The contact sessions play a vital role in ensuring that the training remains on track and we appreciate the constructive input we get from such sessions,” said Plant.

Among the innovative programmes introduced by the project is a Loyalty programme which rewards MFIs which send staff for training.

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Project facilitators have also introduced a toll share number (086 22 11 121) for individual and SMME consumers who want to enrol for the training. Those who call the number are automatically entered into a monthly draw. They stand to win interesting prizes.

The BANKSETA Micro-Finance Skills Project will host a series of contact sessions in the next few weeks including one in Cape Town on March 2, 2004 and one in Kwa-Zulu Natal on March 10, 2004.

Ends/

Western Cape

Date: Tuesday, March 03, 2004

Time: 08:30

Venue: Protea Hotel Sea Point, Arthur’s Road (between Main & Beach Road), Sea Point Western Cape

Kwa-Zulu Natal

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2004

Time: 08:30

Venue: Protea Hotel Umhlanga, Cnr Lighthouse and Chartwall Drive, Protea Mall Umhlanga

Issued by: Gloria Matuwane

Account Assistant: BlackRock Communication

Cell: 072-189-8359 Email:

Tel: +27 11 642 8200 Fax: +27 11 484 2111

On behalf of: BANKSETA

Richard Plant

General Secretary: BANKSETA

Tel: (011) 805-9661 Email: