Silulo Foundation, Social Enterprise Connect (SEC), the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa and Premier FMCG are partners in the Iwisa No.1 Community Champion Competition. The competition aims to unlock township social entrepreneurship by providing training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to build sustainable businesses that drive positive impact.

The competition is run in four regions and was started in 2022 with the aim to continue annually - recognizing and rewarding township businesses that not only do well but also uplift the communities around them.

If you run an eKasi business that makes a difference in your community, this competition is for you!

Shortlisted finalists will receive:

  • Pitch training - focusing on highlighting strengths and differentiating factors increasing the business's potential for support, interest, and funding.
  • guidance from our expert mentors and an opportunity during each session to ask questions relating to their enterprise.
  • the opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs;
  • the chance to win up to R30 000 for their business.

This competition will run in four provinces - the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape, the Free State and Gauteng. There will be three phases in this competition.

1. Applications

The call for applications will be done through Silulo Foundation networks and on Iwisa No.1 social media platforms. The application is an online form and applicants also need to upload a video.

Applicants must:

  • Make a positive difference in the community/township through businesses/outreach programmes/community projects;
  • Operate in one of the following provinces: Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Western Cape or Free State;
  • Be a South African citizen;
  • Be 18 years old or older;
  • Have a business that falls within one or more of the following industries/sectors:

    • Transport & Logistics, Marketing & Advertising, Farming & Food Production, Safety, Distribution etc, Retail, Cleaning, Print & Packaging, Technology & Infrastructure, Construction, Health & Safety, Manufacturing, Finance, Education, Hospitality or Environment & Sustainability.

All entries will be looked at and validated, and shortlisted.

Applications close on Tuesday 31 May 2024.

Applications can be submitted here.

2. Selection and Training

These shortlisted entrepreneurs will be invited to participate in online pitch sessions. A panel of judges will listen and deliberate on the pitches presented. The top 10 finalists per region will be selected from the online pitch sessions.

The selected top 10 finalists will receive pitch training in preparation for the Award ceremony, the final phase of the competition.

3. Awards

Government officials, community members, social entrepreneurs and our top entrepreneurs will be invited to the Iwisa No.1 Community Champion Award Ceremony.

The panel of judges will consist of professionals from Silulo Foundation and Premier FMCG, as well as other successful social entrepreneurs.

The first prize is R30 000, the second is R20 000 and the third is R10 000.

The top 3 champions from each region will also be invited to a 2-day in-person training. The training will focus on the viability and sustainability of their businesses.

Detailed terms and conditions can be found here.

Applications can be submitted here.