The IWISA No. 1 Gauteng Community Champions Competition showed something powerful: entrepreneurship in South Africa is more than building profit-driven businesses. Iwisa demonstrated how corporations can create real impact by supporting entrepreneurs and creating a platform to showcase their businesses.
The IWISA No. 1 Gauteng Community Champions Competition was clear in its mission: to encourage and shine a light on social entrepreneurs operating within South Africa’s townships, peri-urban and rural communities.
The day took us through ten finalist presentations, who all drive impact in their own way. From a business supplying affordable school uniforms to a passion for teaching swimming, all the way to manufacturing cleaning products, this year’s finalists proved that small businesses can have a big social impact.
The event is a platform for entrepreneurs to share how they tackle local challenges, create jobs, and how their businesses contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Turning Local Problems into Opportunities
One of the clear patterns from the competition was how resourcefulness is the key to an impactful and successful business, as well as how social entrepreneurship in South Africa is essential in solving the unique challenges faced by South Africans.
“Our 2025 competition specifically targeted established social entrepreneurs addressing critical areas including agriculture, education, digital and tech solutions, health and the circular economy of waste management and recycling, as well as other United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” explains Phumzile Nhlapo, Premier Senior Brand Manager: Maize, Breakfast and Pasta.
Take Portia Mokoena from Metmok (Pty) Ltd and founder of Swima Le Portia. This entrepreneur highlighted a serious problem in South Africa. The lack of access to safe swimming lessons leads to the loss of many lives every year. Portia stated that in 2024, 1 477 people drowned, many of them being children.
To solve this issue, Portia’s business offers an affordable swimming programme costing R 250 per month. She also offers aqua fitness classes for the elderly. In addition to that, she creates youth employment opportunities by training young people to become lifeguards.
The competition celebrates these kinds of initiatives, focusing on entrepreneurs who prioritise impact and see beyond profit. Portia’s touching presentation landed in third place, taking home the R 20 000 price, as well as mentorship and ongoing business support.
Building Skills and Creating Economic Value
The IWISA No. 1 Gauteng Community Champions Competition placed an emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals. Number 8 of the SDG goals was touched on frequently throughout the day. The goal is decent work and economic growth. SMEs target these goals through investing in skills development and job creation.
The finalist presentations gave us a clear idea of the type of social impact being created by these businesses. Another finalist, Rethabile Moabi from Rom Cleaning Services, focused on skills development in rural areas. The project trains locals, especially the youth, to manufacture cleaning products.
The impact is clear:
- Reduces dependency on expensive commercial products.
- Equips young people with practical manufacturing skills.
- Builds economic value within the community by encouraging local trade.
Projects like this are necessary in rural areas and townships where unemployment is high. Social impact initiatives like this can lay the foundation for long-term growth. With the right support, young people can be inspired and gain the confidence needed to move from job seekers to job creators.
Another finalist who demonstrated the importance of skills development and generating economic value through entrepreneurship is Thokozani Sibeko, founder of Flour to Dough Bakery, who gave an impressive presentation.
He highlighted that his business supplies over 300 houses in his community with bread. He also placed an emphasis on providing an affordable alternative to buying bread and instead of community members making the extra commute to grocery stores where they would spend more, they can spend less and get their baked goods delivered to their homes.
Flour to Bakery also boosts skills development by providing training to young bakers. Sibeko’s impactful, date-driven presentation landed his business in second place, taking home the R 30 000 prize, along with mentorship and business support.
Giving Learners Back Their Confidence
Khabonina Mnguni, founder of ZS Uniforms, saw how learners were embarrassed to attend school without proper uniforms. This affected their confidence and their ability to focus on learning.
Through her business, she supplies uniforms to 14 schools and donates uniforms and dignity packs to underprivileged children. Her work ensures learners can walk into classrooms with confidence and dignity.
ZS Uniforms was announced as the 2025 IWISA No. 1 Community Champion in Gauteng. Khabonina Mnguni received R50 000 in prize money, along with training, mentorship, and access to a network of partners who will help her grow her impact even further.
The Gauteng Community Champions Competition wasn’t only about awarding prizes. It was also about sparking conversations around what it means to be an entrepreneur in South Africa today.
