WE KNEW RAPID EXECUTION OF PAYMENTS COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SMALL BUSINESS EXISTING OR SHUTTING ITS DOORS

The consequences of small interventions can be great. These cases have provided hope for the future and admiration for the creativity coursing through the veins of small businesses in SA.

They also bear testament in the case of Pillay to the compassion and care that are a part of what it means to be South African.

These are the values that define what Sukuma stands for and we are privileged to be associated with entrepreneurs who bring these values to life through their actions in this crisis.

Remarkable work is being done by other funds — private and state-backed — and other initiatives trying to help businesses large and small to get over the hill as we try to pull through this together.

We hope that in sharing these lessons we have learnt others will be inspired to consider introducing the option of modest nonrefundable grants to their quiver of funding options.

We are certain that they, like us, will be astounded at the power of small things.

Makgoba is archbishop of Cape Town and metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. He serves on the panel of advisers to The Sukuma Relief Fund.