The spotlight was cast on five businesses yesterday, 21 September when the owners received development prizes to the value of R50 000 each during the Durban Business Fair (DBF) Excellence Awards.

 

The DBF Awards, which were held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, aim to recognise, and reward the successful efforts of eThekwini-based businesses who have excelled in their respective sectors. 

 

The DBF Excellence Awards have five categories namely;

 

·       SMME Excellence Award won by RSW Engineering CC

 

·        Rural/Township Based Award awarded to Afrikan Passion Designers

 

·        Women Owned Business Award presented to Siko Republik

 

·       Youth Owned Business Award won by QAL Greens

 

·       Long-Standing Special Recognition Award was presented to Amabheshu Innovators.

 

EThekwini Speaker Councillor Thabani Nyawose said the categories are in line with the City’s Radical Economic Transformation Framework. This advances social economic opportunities for designated groups, which includes women and youth, to participate in the mainstream economy.

 

“All winners received monetary and development prizes which will assist in the growth and increase of productivity for their businesses,” he said.

 

Councillor Nyawose thanked the City’s main Award partners which includes Boston College, Ithala, and W&R SETA. 

 

An overjoyed Nkazimulo Ngidi, founder of Amabheshu Innovators which creates traditional attire, received the Special Recognition Award.

 

“I founded my business in 2013 and started exhibiting at the DBF in 2016 for exposure and growth. I have not looked back since then as my business has continued to grow and I now employ 10 people. I am based in Warwick Junction and have plans to open another office to meet the demand. I have maintained a customer base from Germany, Austria, and the United States through networks I made at the DBF Essence Festival in 2017,” he said.

 

He is looking forward to the new connections he will make at this year’s DBF.

 

This year’s DBF Excellence Awards featured the 2022 Lions’ Den competition winners. The Municipality awarded a sum of R120 000 to six businesses who will receive training and mentorship to ensure their sustainability, in the following categories:

 

·       Emerging won by Alabaster Touch Day Spa and African-Ish

 

·       Established awarded to Integrate Legal Education and CHWS Trading

 

·       Entrepreneurial Excellence presented to Clean Fest (Pty) Ltd and A & B Poultry Supply

 

Over the years, more than R1 million has been provided for business development support functions to enable SMME’s to benefit from the Lion’s Den Programme through the competition.  More than 30 businesses have benefited from the programme and have since grown exponentially.

 

ENDS

 

Issued by the eThekwini Municipality’s Communication Unit