The Development Bank of Southern Africa allocated more than R130 million in loans and grants to the Eastern Cape in the last financial year.

The DBSA annual report tabled yesterday reveals that the major amounts allocated to the province include:
• R20,7 million to refinance bulk and reticulation infrastructure for the construction village at Coega;
• R16-million to build the Eden Grove complex at Rhodes University;
• R8,75-million to provide financial and technical assistance for the planning and implementation of a municipal infrastructure programme;
• R2-million as a loan to Ed-U College to restructure its balance sheet; and
• R6,5-million to provide financial assistance to develop new and upgrade existing municipal infrastructure services in the Ndlambe area.

Among smaller allocations is a grant of R120 000 as technical assistance for the Disability Employment Concerns Trust to conduct a project viability study of the Kuzuko Game Lodge development in the Addo Elephant Park.

The bank also provided a grant to conduct a viability study for the Inotech industrial development project that is part of the Uitenhage-Despatch Development Initiative. It also funded a sewing co-operative and food gardens project in Stutterheim and a small industrial business centre in Duncan Village.