Winners in the small business sector during the 2023 National Presidential Awards

Mr Duduetsang Kau of Re-L8, third from left, receiving a check of R1 million worth of technology transfer assistance during the National Presidential SMME and Cooperatives Awards flanked by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahms as well Ms Xoliswa Daku, Seda Board Chairperson, Ms Machaka Mosehana, Director: Centre for Entrepreneurship at University of Johannesburg and Mr Nkosikhona Mbatha, Seda Acting CEO.
November 2023 marked the 2nd National Presidential SMME and Cooperatives Awards. These Awards resoundingly confirmed that the small business sector in South Africa is abound with possibilities and becoming stronger. The Awards which included the Pitch for Funding element saw intense competition among more than 2800 impressively strong entries from small businesses including cooperatives spanning all geographic regions and industries in South Africa. This year’s judges were impressed with the winning companies’ resilience and adaptability that allowed them to turn the challenges of low economic growth into remarkable growth and sustainability.
The award winners were announced at an awards ceremony hosted by Small Business Development Minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa held in Gauteng, Johannesburg on 17 November 2023. There were 13 categories and all category winners walked away with R100k prize money. Bokamoso Foods, a Gauteng province based social enterprise that links farmers with agronomy support and markets, stole the show winning two categories namely Social Enterprise of the Year and Breaking Ground SMME of the Year.
Other award winners included:
• SMME Owned By Persons with Disabilities of the Year – VIRECOM
• Women-led SMME of the Year – ImpowerX Advisory Services
• Youth-led SMME of the Year – Fundza Training Institute
• Township SMME of the Year – Khepri Innovations
• Rural-based SMME of the Year – WEE KAAN Billionaires
• Homegrown SMME of the Year – Rhino Manufacturing
• Cooperative of the Year – Molecular Imaging & Therapy Limpopo
• Best Employing Cooperative of the Year – Voice Out Deaf
• Best Performing Rural Cooperative Banking Institution of the Year – Mutapa Financial Services Cooperative
• Start-up of the Year – Wa Rona Food Enterprise
• Business Development Service Provider of the Year – Classic Oriental Consultancy
The highlight of the Awards was the awarding of winners for Seda's Pitch for Funding competition which carried prize monies worth over R2 million shared between five winners as well as a Course on Artificial Intelligence worth R110K from the University of Johannesburg. The top five winners included Arion Power who walked away with technology transfer assistance worth R150K, Field Tech – R250K, HyHarvest – R300K, Angela Care – R500K. RE-L8, a North West province based clothing business won a staggering R1 million worth of technology transfer assistance.
The Minister’s discretionary awards included:
• Award for supporting small business development for more than 20 years – Allen Gray Orbis Foundation
• Award for innovative solutions for small businesses – Tshwane University of Technology’s Centre for Entrepreneurship
• Award for small business investment – Wholesale & Retail Seta
• Award for the ecosystem facilitator and champion of the year – Amazon
• Award for the ecosystem champion in supporting informal businesses – National Skills Fund
• Award for innovation in the agri space – Spur Group
The Awards aim to coordinate all key role players in the ecosystem in support of small enterprise development. Furthermore, these awards recognise and celebrate the best performing SMMEs, Cooperatives, Ecosystem Enablers and Corporates that are supporting SMME development.