Wynberg social entrepreneur Cheryl-Lynn Freeman placed third in the 2026 Iwisa No 1 Community Champions competition last month. The Western Cape leg alone drew 180 entries.
Freeman runs Mzansi Business Services from offices in Maynard Road, Wynberg. She competed at Newlands Rugby Stadium.
Filling the financial knowledge gap
Freeman founded Mzansi Business Services in 2011. The company aims to narrow the financial knowledge gap among small businesses and non-profit organisations (NPOs).
It provides affordable financial management, tax compliance and business-consulting services to entrepreneurs, churches and NPOs across South Africa.
She is a registered accounting officer and tax practitioner, and holds an honours degree in Accounting Science.
Training nearly 1 000 people
Freeman also launched the Mzansi Empowerment Academy. The academy provides financial, digital, entrepreneurial and tax training to unemployed people, entrepreneurs and professionals.
A 2024 profile by CFO Club Africa said she had trained almost 1 000 people in under two years. In addition, she hosts interns through a partnership with False Bay College.
Seven shortlisted from the region
The competition attracted over 1 400 entries across four provinces. Freeman was one of seven social entrepreneurs shortlisted from the region.
She received R30 000 in prize money, along with access to training and mentorship.
Amanda Nkwitshi, founder of We Care Wellness Clinic in Khayelitsha, took first place and R70 000, while Beanca Campher from Eclessia Enterprises placed second and received R50 000. The three winners shared the R150 000 allocated to the province.
70 years of filling tummies
Now in its fourth year, the competition recognises social entrepreneurs in townships, peri-urban and rural communities. The 2026 edition marked the brand’s 70th anniversary.
“This year’s edition has very special significance as Iwisa No 1 is celebrating 70 years of filling tummies and nourishing families,” said Phumzile Nhlapo, brand manager at Iwisa.
“The event was specifically themed ‘Heroes, Heroines and Heritage’, a tribute to both the legacy that has carried the brand for seven decades, and to the people who continue to write the next chapter of that story in their own communities.”
Six categories, four provinces
The competition accepted social enterprises trading formally for more than two years. Entrants could work in food security and nutrition, education and skills development, or health and well-being. Other categories were clean and affordable energy, circular economy and recycling, and digital and tech innovation.
The total prize pool increased to R600 000 for this year. The money was shared across the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng and Western Cape.
Partners including Nedbank, Fundi, Old Mutual, Credit Guarantee, BizBuddy SA, ARC Consulting and Kamva Capital supported the finalists. They provided additional training and mentorship beyond the prize money.
Building hope
Nkwitshi, the overall winner, dedicated her victory to her team and community.
“This R70 000 investment, combined with the training, mentorship and network access we will receive, represents so much more for our SMME,” she said. “We are not just building a business. We’re building hope.”
Nhlapo said the competition would continue empowering social entrepreneurs. “For 70 years Iwisa No.1 has filled plates, homes and hearts. This is how we fill futures.”
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