EAST LONDON- A wave of celebration and inspiration swept through East London on Thursday evening as the Eastern Cape hosted its first-ever Bambelela Business Awards, an initiative by the Hollywood Foundation aimed at uplifting and celebrating the province’s dynamic small business sector.
Held at the prestigious Hemmingways hotel on 4th September 2025 the event brought together entrepreneurs, government leaders, industry partners and community stakeholders.
On 3rd September it was a day packed with workshops, business exhibitions, live pitching sessions and a glitzy gala dinner on 4th September. At the heart of the evening was the recognition of outstanding local entrepreneurs who have shown remarkable innovation, resilience and impact within their communities.
Winners walked away with business equipment worth a total of R1 million, courtesy of the Hollywood Foundation. In a further boost to digital and operational capacity, telecommunications giant MTN handed over essential tech equipment a year’s worth of data for the top three winners and 20 Point-of-Sale devices for the top 20 finalists.
Group Transformation Manager at Hollywoodbets Babongile Mkhize, emphasized the deeper values behind the awards. “The Bambelela Business Awards embody the freedom of self-reliance, the dignity of meaningful work and the transformative power of sustainable progress.”
Since 2020, the Hollywood Foundation has invested more than R9.7 million in supporting 245 small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) across South Africa helping to grow local economies and uplift communities.
Furthermore, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane praised the initiative’s practical impact, “The Hollywood Foundation’s support model provides real tools not just talk to grow business capacity and create jobs. This kind of support is essential to unlocking our province’s economic potential.”
Mabuyane called on entrepreneurs to embrace collaborative growth, sharing skills, trading together and supporting one another to build stronger, more resilient local economies.
Echoing this message General Manager of Trade, Industry and Sector Development at the Buffalo City Metro Municipality Xolelwa Mbethe, stressed the critical role of access to finance and partnership. “Initiatives like the Bambelela Business Awards help unlock critical resources. They show what’s possible when public and private sectors come together to back small businesses,” Mbethe.
The awards not only spotlighted emerging business talent but also highlighted the Eastern Cape’s growing entrepreneurial spirit, driven by innovation, perseverance and a strong sense of community.
As these SMMEs move forward with new tools, mentorship and a renewed sense of confidence the province edges closer to a future where local enterprise becomes a leading force for inclusive growth and economic transformation.
Photographs: supplied
