The inaugural Eastern Cape Bambelela Business Awards ceremony, hosted by the Hollywood Foundation to honour local businesses for their hard work and contribution to their communities, was held in East London over three days of fun, learning and opportunities.
From 2nd to 4th September, the ceremony kicked off with an SMME workshop, where business owners gathered to learn about the award processes, funding opportunities, and ways to grow their ventures sustainably.
On the second day, an informative exhibition and seminar were hosted where SMMEs were given the opportunity to showcase their products and services by either exhibiting or pitching for funding.
The day also featured an interactive panel discussion, inspiring success stories, and motivational speeches.
The event concluded with an elegant Gala Dinner at the beautiful Hemingways Hotel in East London, where a total of R1 million was awarded to 20 deserving businesses, with the grand prize winner taking home an impressive R130,000.
In his keynote address, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane commended the Hollywood Foundation for structuring the funding to directly procure essential resources that help winners expand capacity and create jobs.
He also encouraged the winners and finalists of the awards and said: “To our finalists and winners, this is not the destination, it is a launching pad. Use this recognition to deepen your customer base, sharpen your business models and mentor others coming behind you.
“Let us build a culture of co-operative growth where businesses collaborate, share skills and trade with one another,” he said.
One of the winners, Sinoxolo Manengela of Ndimbi Clothing, said: “We are honoured to have received the R40,000 investment from the Hollywood Foundation Hollywoodbets SA, Dream Business Hub – Bambelela Business Awards, enabling us to expand our manufacturing unit.”
He said that this milestone is only the first step toward his vision of reindustrialising local fashion manufacturing, creating sustainable jobs and enterprise opportunities and developing an export-ready South African fashion brand that competes globally.
