Heroes, Heroines and Heritage: Iwisa No 1 Celebrates South Africa's Community Champions in Gauteng Finale

By Priya Ranchod

South Africa's most inspiring social entrepreneurs will gather at Freedom Park Heritage Site on Friday, 2 October 2026, as the Iwisa No 1 Community Champions Competition concludes its Gauteng leg with a first-of-its-kind SMME Conference and Gala Dinner.

As the fourth and final provincial leg of the national competition, the Gauteng showcase marks the culmination of a programme that has grown into one of the country's most significant platforms for recognising and supporting entrepreneurs who are creating sustainable solutions to community challenges while building thriving businesses.

Now in its fourth year, the competition continues to identify and celebrate social entrepreneurs operating in township, rural and peri-urban communities. These are individuals who are not only earning a living through their enterprises but are also uplifting those around them through job creation, skills development and meaningful social impact.

The 2026 edition carries special significance as Iwisa No 1 celebrates 70 years of serving South African communities. Under the theme *Heroes, Heroines and Heritage*, the initiative honours both the brand's longstanding legacy and the remarkable individuals who are helping to shape the next generation of community development.

Set against the symbolic backdrop of Freedom Park, a site dedicated to commemorating South Africa's heroes and heroines, the event reflects the competition's mission of acknowledging ordinary people achieving extraordinary change.

The response to this year's competition exceeded expectations, with more than 1 400 entries received across the four participating provinces. Gauteng alone contributed an impressive 779 entries, highlighting the province's vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and the growing reach of the programme.

Entrepreneurs entered from sectors critical to South Africa's future, including food security and nutrition, education and skills development, health and wellbeing, clean and affordable energy, recycling and the circular economy, as well as digital and technological innovation.

This year also saw a significant investment in entrepreneurial growth through a total prize value of R600 000 across the four provinces. In each province, the top three winners share R150 000 in prize money, with prizes of R70 000, R50 000 and R30 000 awarded respectively.

However, the competition is about far more than financial rewards. Winners receive tailored support packages that include expert mentorship, skills development opportunities, participation in business bootcamps and direct networking access to Premier FMCG's stakeholder partners. Even finalists who do not place among the top three benefit from development opportunities, professional support and access to a growing national network of social enterprises.

Recognising that not every entrepreneur can leave with a trophy, organisers introduced the SMME Conference as a key addition to the 2026 programme. Designed around the practical needs of emerging businesses, the conference focuses on funding access, business support and future-proofing enterprises in a rapidly changing economic environment.

The conference brings together Gauteng's Top 70 shortlisted social enterprises alongside funders, development agencies, partners and representatives from the City of Tshwane. Sessions include a financial wellness presentation by Nedbank Business Banking and expert panel discussions covering funding readiness, business development support and strategies for building competitive, future-focused social enterprises.

By connecting entrepreneurs directly with funders, government agencies and development partners, organisers aim to ensure that participants leave not only with valuable information but also with meaningful business relationships and tangible opportunities.

The spotlight will then shift to the evening's Gala Dinner, where seven Gauteng finalists will present their businesses to an independent judging panel in pursuit of provincial honours.

The finalists are YDN Academy Projects, X-Shinemo, The Breadbox, Qaboha Foods, TOSH Detergents, P Agricultural Group (PAG) and Moritelo Cosmetics.

Each finalist represents a compelling example of how entrepreneurship can be used as a force for social good, combining commercial sustainability with measurable community impact.

The evening will also feature appearances by notable change-makers, including 2025 Gauteng champion Khabonina Mnguni of ZS Uniforms, 12-year-old innovator Lubanzi Dube, founder of SolEase and winner of the World Startup Forum Championship in Davos, and Refilwe Sebothoma, founder of Hakem Energies, who will deliver the inspirational address.

According to organisers, the competition is founded on the belief that the challenges facing South African communities require collaborative solutions. While government and corporate institutions play important roles, social entrepreneurs are often at the forefront of creating practical, community-driven change.

By supporting a single entrepreneur, communities benefit through job creation, local procurement, skills transfer and economic participation. The result is a ripple effect that extends far beyond individual businesses, touching livelihoods, dignity and long-term community resilience.

The programme's impact continues to grow year after year. During 2025 alone, the initiative invested R1.01 million in direct financial support, unlocked an additional R500 000 in training, mentorship and development value, engaged with more than 1 000 social enterprises, and hosted 35 information sessions across four provinces.

What started as a competition has evolved into a broader movement, with participants gaining access to development opportunities through partnerships with organisations such as the NYDA, SEDFA, municipalities, Sibanye-Stillwater, BizBuddy SA, Leverage and Nedbank.

For many entrants, the end of the competition marks the beginning of a new chapter rather than the conclusion of a journey. Continued mentorship, support programmes and referral pathways ensure that entrepreneurs remain connected to opportunities long after the prize money has been awarded.

As Iwisa No 1 celebrates seven decades of serving South African families, the Community Champions Competition reflects a commitment that extends beyond filling plates. It is about investing in people, nurturing innovation and empowering community leaders who are building brighter futures for those around them.

In the words of the competition's purpose, this is how Iwisa No 1 continues to fill futures.