On a night celebrating enterprise, creativity and ambition, the eThekwini Municipality honoured entrepreneurs and creatives whose businesses contribute to the city’s economy and job creation at the Durban Business Fair (DBF) Excellence Awards.
Held at the Durban Exhibition Centre on Saturday, the awards brought together the Durban Business Fair, Lions’ Den Business Plan Competition and Durban Fashion Fair Recognition Awards.
Winners received recognition and enterprise development support, including funding towards equipment and other business needs, with prizes ranging from R10 000 to R60 000 across various categories.
The Lions’ Den attracted 121 applications, with winners recognised across three stages of business development.
Sparkle n’ Glow won the Emerging Business category, with Creative Tech named runner-up. Super Clean Tekkie Wash won the Established Business category, with Thandimpumelelo Hardware as runner-up.
Msuthukazi Group received the Entrepreneurship Excellence Award, while Waterloo Blocks was named runner-up.
The Durban Business Fair Excellence Awards recognised Plastimed Packaging as the DBF Excellence Award winner, MM Clothing as the Rural and Township Based Business Award winner, and Amazizi Leatherworks as the Women Owned Business Award winner.
The Youth Owned Business Award ended in a tie, with Magaga Media and Communications and Grace Academy High School named joint winners.
The Durban Fashion Fair Recognition Awards celebrated excellence across the fashion value chain.
Zwandy won Best Ladieswear Collection, House of Vyagor Louvre won Best Menswear Collection, while Kireshen Chetty was named Collection of the Week.
Sibu Msimang was crowned Durban Designer of the Year, with Martin Bespoke receiving the Fashion Innovator Award. Nellie D Designs won the Next Generation and Emerging Durban Designer Award, while Karen Monk Klijnstra and Mita-N Dezynz both received the DFF Special Recognition Award.
The Rising Star awards went to Hendeika Booi, Sindiswa Khomo and Lerato Mabesa in first, second and third place respectively.
The New Face awards recognised Noxolo Ndabambi as the Plus Size winner, Awande Khuzwayo as the Standard Size Female winner, and Lindokuhle Mnqayi as the Male winner.
Addressing approximately 1 000 guests, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said the awards reflect the municipality’s commitment to broadening economic participation, creating opportunities for businesses to grow and building a stronger, more inclusive local economy.
“Tonight, we recognise excellence, but we also reaffirm our commitment to micro, small, and medium enterprises development, economic inclusion, and broader participation in the eThekwini economy,” said Mayor Xaba.
The combined initiative is providing more than R800 000 in enterprise development support, alongside opportunities for market access.
The monetary awards will be used towards enterprise development support, including the purchase of equipment to strengthen business operations and support growth.
Businesses and entrepreneurs welcomed eThekwini Municipality’s investment in local enterprises and its practical support to help them strengthen operations, access markets and pursue sustainable growth. – SAnews.gov.za
