The government is improving support for creatives through a programme called CreativeBiz Nexus, which helps micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the creative sector grow and access more opportunities.
The initiative was launched by the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) in September 2025. CreativeBiz Nexus connects talent, business support, policy and investment to help build a stronger and more inclusive creative economy.
Consultative engagement
Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni, recently met with creatives at a consultative engagement held at the Durban International Convention Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.
Ndabeni explained that CreativeBiz Nexus was developed in response to calls from the sector for more coordinated support.
The consultation aimed to bring together creative practitioners, entrepreneurs and ecosystem partners to discuss opportunities, challenges and solutions across the creative value chain.
Participants from music, arts and crafts, film, television, digital content, fashion and design were able to directly raise issues with policymakers and enterprise development organisations.
Addressing attendees, Minister Ndabeni highlighted that the work done by creative professionals, whether producing music, designing brands, animating characters, writing books or creating digital worlds, goes beyond art.
“It is entrepreneurship, intellectual property and economic participation,” Ndabeni said.
Constitutional protection
The Minister emphasised that this work is protected by Section 22 of the Constitution, which gives every citizen the right to freely choose their trade, occupation or profession.
As South Africa embraces the digital age, Section 22 also supports new careers, such as prompt engineering, which enables individuals to build businesses using emerging technologies.
“When we invest in creativity, 
we invest in industries that can generate global value for decades,” Ndabeni explained.
Beyond funding challenges, creatives also struggle with limited market access, weak intellectual property protection, inadequate infrastructure and difficulties expanding their businesses.
CreativeBiz Nexus tackles these issues through a solution-driven platform that supports sustainability, inclusion and long-term growth.
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