EAST LONDON- Entrepreneurship took centre stage in East London last week as IWISA hosted its much-anticipated Community Champions event at the East London City Hall on 03 October 2025. The inspiring gathering brought together passionate entrepreneurs from across the province who shared their journeys, community impact and innovative business ideas.
The highlight of the event was the announcement of the top three winners of the IWISA Community Champion Competition, who collectively received a funding pledge of R100,000 to further their initiatives and drive change in their respective communities.
Among the standout winners was Kamvalethu Himunzowa from Gqeberha, founder of Tofaa Connecting Humans, who walked away with the top prize. Overwhelmed with joy, Himunzowa shared her vision for the prize money. “We’re going to use this funding to build a visual farm platform where our staff will introduce their roles and skills. It will also be used to train unemployed people in real engineering skills so they can create tools that support agriculture in their communities,” she said. “I still can’t believe I came first I’m so excited!”
Senior Brand Manager at Premier FMCG Phumzile Nhlapo, emphasized the importance of celebrating local change-makers. “For the past three weeks, we’ve been on a roadshow, recognizing individuals who make a real difference in their communities,” said Nhlapo. “This event in the Eastern Cape celebrates our top 10 finalists, with R100,000 in prizes awarded to the top three.”
In addition among the finalists was Ntombovuyo Novukela, founder of S Novukela Production, who praised the experience. “I’ve learned so much especially about how to market my business. Even though I didn’t win, I’ll keep running my business because it’s a legacy for me.”
Local government and business leaders also voiced their support. The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing young entrepreneurs, while Lizelle Maurice, Executive Director of the Border-Kei Chamber of Business (BKCOB), commended the participants for their innovation and resilience,“Our youth are solution-driven. Despite high unemployment, they’ve identified problems in their communities and created solutions. We at BKCOB are proud of the entrepreneurs uplifting the Eastern Cape,” said Maurice.
The event was a vibrant celebration of innovation, community upliftment, and youth empowerment, aligning with IWISA’s mission to support grassroots changemakers. With passionate entrepreneurs like Himunzowa leading the way, the future of Eastern Cape enterprise looks brighter than ever.
Photograph: Nkasela Mfundo
