According to the dtic’s incentives page, read on 28 October 2026, the department lists a long set of incentives, and the manufacturing grants most businesses will meet are the Manufacturing Support Programme (up to 20% of a project, capped at R10 million) and the Black Industrialists Scheme (30% to 50%, capped at R50 million). None of the programme pages we read gives a closing date or a window, so check each page and apply through the route it names before you spend any money.
What this means for your business: these are reimbursable or cost-sharing grants, not loans, and several programmes say costs incurred before you apply do not count. The dtic’s own pages are the only reliable status check, and they carry no publication dates, so confirm with the contact listed on the page before you commit capital. This article is information, not advice, and approval is never guaranteed.
The manufacturing grants
The dtic’s Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme page splits support in two. The loan component, working capital and plant and equipment facilities, is managed by the Industrial Development Corporation (see our IDC explainer). The grant component points to the Manufacturing Support Programme (introduced in April 2024, per that page) and the Black Industrialists Scheme.
The Manufacturing Support Programme (MSP) is open to South African registered entities in manufacturing (SIC 3). The page says it offers a reimbursable grant of up to 20% for capital expenditure and raw materials, to a maximum of R10 million over a two-year investment period, with the last claim due within six months of the final approved milestone. Projects at least 51% owned and controlled or managed by women, youth or persons with disabilities can receive 30%. Consultant fees under the competitiveness improvements benefit may not exceed R1 million. The page says applications go by email to MSPapplications@thedtic.gov.za and gives no closing date.
The Black Industrialists Scheme (BIS) offers a cost-sharing grant of 30% to 50%, to a maximum of R50 million, depending on black ownership and management control, economic benefit and project value. It also supports feasibility studies (limited to R3 million), post-investment support (to R500 000) and business development services (to R2 million). The page says the dtic’s Online Incentive Solution (OIS) took effect on 1 June 2026, that all BIS applications must go through it, and that emailed applications are no longer accepted. The announcement letter carries the same effective date, and says applications submitted up to and including 31 May 2026 are evaluated outside the system.
Agro-processing and exporters
The Agro-Processing Support Scheme (APSS) page describes a 20% to 30% cost-sharing grant up to R20 million over two years, with a possible extra 10% for projects that meet all its economic benefit criteria. It says applications must be submitted within the designated application window, but states no window dates. Like BIS, APSS applications have gone through the OIS since 1 June 2026, per the page.
For exporters, the Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) page says the programme partially compensates qualifying costs of developing export markets and recruiting foreign direct investment. Individual participation applications have had to be made on the OIS since 1 September 2022. The page’s announcement letter adds that the platform does not accept late applications, which must be submitted three to six months before the event starts.
The Sector Specific Assistance Scheme (SSAS) is an 80:20 reimbursable cost-sharing grant, but for project funding it supports export councils, joint action groups and industry associations rather than individual firms. Emerging exporters take part through events those bodies run.
Programmes that are closed, paused or under review
- 12I Tax Allowance: the 12I page states that no applications are accepted after 31 March 2020.
- Film and television: a dtic reassurance notice dated August 2026 says the department is starting a review of the programme guidelines, applications already received continue to be processed first in, first out, and outstanding liability was about R255 million at 30 June 2026. Earlier, a notice effective 30 June 2025 said the programme remained open but investments made before an approval letter are at the producer’s own risk. See also our report on rebate delays.
- Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII): the SPII page lists grants of up to R2 million (product process development, for small, very small and micro enterprises and individuals) and up to R5 million (matching scheme, all enterprises), but states no status or window.
How to apply: a checklist
- Pick the programme whose own page matches your sector and project, and read its guidelines in full.
- Do not buy assets or start the project before applying: APSS says assets bought or costs incurred before applying are non-qualifying, and SPII excludes costs incurred before a completed application.
- Check the route on the page: OIS for BIS, APSS and EMIA individual participation; email for MSP, as the page stands today.
- Prepare the documents the page lists, such as the application form, business plan and three years of financial projections (APSS).
- Email or phone the contact on the page to confirm whether an application window is open.
- Keep records for claims: BIS, for example, requires a factual findings report from an accredited auditor.
For the wider picture, see business funding in South Africa: what is open right now and our guide to dtic investment incentives. We do not broker funding or recommend any funder.
What we could not confirm
- Whether any application window is open or closing for MSP, BIS, APSS, SPII or SSAS: the pages we read give none.
- When each page was last updated: none of the pages carries a date, so we can only report what they said on 28 October 2026.
- Whether MSP applications still go by email: the page says so, but the dtic has moved BIS and APSS to the OIS, so confirm with the MSP contacts.
- Current status of the Global Business Services incentive: its page gives an effective date of 1 January 2019 and an objective, but no amounts, window or status.
- Approval odds and processing times: the dtic publishes none on these pages, and we have not estimated any.
