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ENTER THE
2025 Township Economy Awards

Hospital View Park,Tembisa,
City of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng

Engine of economic growth

Why Apply?

The Township Entrepreneurs Agency (TEA) is proud to introduce the inaugural Township Economy Awards and Summit (TEAS), a prestigious event dedicated to recognizing the exceptional achievements of township entrepreneurs.

This is your chance to shine a spotlight on those who are driving change, innovation, and growth in our communities.

AWARD ENTRY CRITERIA

criteria

To qualify for this award, the business must be owned by a South African citizen(s). This means that South Africans should hold 100% of the enterprise's ownership, ensuring that the benefits and profits primarily support the local economy. This criterion highlights the importance of fostering domestic entrepreneurship and rewarding businesses that are rooted in the South African community.

The award criteria stipulates that the business must be based and operating in the township, which is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit thriving in these vibrant communities. 

To be eligible for this award, a business must be registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) in South Africa. This registration is a legal requirement that confirms the business's legitimacy and compliance with national business regulations. It ensures that the business is recognised by the government and has a unique identity in the corporate sector. This criterion helps maintain a standard of professionalism and reliability among contenders for the award.

The business must be generating revenue less than R 10 million per year.
The exempt micro enterprises must be BBBEE Level 1.

The award criteria prioritises the empowerment of previously disadvantaged groups. Special consideration will be given to black youth, women and people living with a disability.

Award Categories

Enter your business in one of these distinguished categories:

Retail Excellence Award

1 x Trophy recipient

Food and Beverage Innovator of the Year

1 x Trophy recipient

Construction and Infrastructure Award

1 x Trophy recipient

Service Excellence Award

1 x Trophy recipient

Creative, Arts and Culture Award

1 x Trophy recipient

Health and Wellness Award

1 x Trophy recipient

Manufacturing Excellence Award

1 x Trophy recipient

Green Economy Award

1 x Trophy recipient

Transport and Logistics Award

1 x Trophy recipient

Social and Community Impact Award

1 x Trophy recipient

Entrepreneur with Disability Award

1 x Trophy recipient

Agricultural Excellence Award

1 x Trophy recipient

Technology and Innovation Award

1 x Trophy recipient

Professional Services Award

1 x Trophy recipient

Township Economy Champion Award

2 x Trophy recipient

Watch the 2025 Awards

live from the comfort of your home or office and be the first to see who takes home the trophies.

Click the link below to go to the YouTube live stream page and select "Notify me" to get a reminder when the show is about to start.

Nominate Your Township Hero

Recognising local heroes is a wonderful way to celebrate the individuals who make significant contributions to their communities. These unsung champions often work quietly behind the scenes, dedicating their time and efforts to better the lives of others. Whether it's through volunteering, education, healthcare, or any form of community service, their actions inspire and uplift.

Lifetime Achievement Award

A Lifetime Achievement Award is a prestigious honour bestowed to individuals who have made significant, innovative contributions to their field over an extended period. This award typically recognises a body of work spanning decades that exhibits business leadership excellence, consistency and leaves a lasting impact on the industry and society. Recipients are often celebrated for their leadership, dedication, and role as pioneers, inspiring future generations through their enduring legacy. The award serves as a testament to their lifelong commitment and exceptional achievements.

The Township Economy Awards

are designed to

Small Business Exhibition

Keynote Address & Panel Discussion

Mbawula Chat (Fireside)

Networking

Township Immersion

Entertainment

*The Summit will be hosted on November 20th & 21st before the awards

Small Business Exhibition

Keynote Address & Panel Discussion

Mbawula Chat (Fireside)

Networking

Township Immersion

Entertainment

*The Summit will be hosted on November 20th & 21st before the awards

2025 Judging Panel

Distinguished business leaders who evaluated nominees with expertise and integrity.

Derrick Ndzavi

Certified Business Advisor

Xoliswa Moraka

Founder
Colab4Growth

Marang Merekimane

Founder
Business Process Mechanics

Event Gallery

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Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

The Township Economy Awards (TEAS) recognise the exceptional achievements of township entrepreneurs who drive change, innovation and growth in their communities. These awards will be taking place in November 2025.

 To qualify, businesses must be:

  • 100% South African-owned
  • Based in a township
  • Registered with the CIPC
  • Classified as a small business

Yes, there are special awards such as:

  • The Youth Entrepreneur of the Year
  • Female Entrepreneur of the Year
  • Male Entrepreneur of the Year
  • The Chairman's Award
  • The Lifetime Achievement Award
  •  

The deadline for submitting applications is 5 October 2025.

You will need to provide:

  • Business details (name, address, registration number)
  • Description of your business and its achievements
  • Supporting documents (e.g. company profile)
  • Fill entry form and nomination form in full

Winners will be selected based on criteria scoring in the following areas: governance, innovation, community impact, business growth and sustainability.

Selection is done by an independent professional team, consisting of Corporate, Government, and Entrepreneurs.

The judging selection criteria are:

  • Governance
  • Innovation
  • Impact to the community
  • Business growth
  • Sustainability

Each of them weighs 20%.

For more information or assistance, you can visit the official website or contact the support team via email.

TEAS@JoinUsForTEA.co.za

The Township Economy Awards is an awards ceremony that focuses on celebrating township entrepreneurial excellence.

The Township Economy  Summit is a conference and exhibition which focuses on policy, industry engagements and small business exhibitions.

The Township Economy Awards and the Township Economy Summit are initiatives driven by the same organisation, Township Enterprise Agency, which is wholly owned by Intercessor Army Franchising. However, these two events operate as separate entities with distinct processes.

To participate in the Township Economy Awards, interested businesses must submit an entry application. If selected, participants must purchase a ticket to attend the actual awards ceremony.

Attending the  township Economy Summit requires registration via the provided link, which is free for attendees. For those interested in becoming exhibitors at the summit, a separate exhibition form must be completed, followed by adherence to the instructions outlined in that form.

In essence, while both events are connected through the overarching organisation, they are managed independently, with different entry, participation, and attendance requirements.

Summit & Expo

  • Thursday, 20 November 2025
  • Friday, 21 November 2025

Awards

  • Saturday, 22 November 2025

Summit & Expo

  • Attendance is free
  • Registration is required 
  • Register here - Click Me

Awards

  • Attendance is by ticket only
  • Ticket prices will start from R900
  • Tickets will only go on sale from the 13th October 2025 at 1 PM

The exhibition is open to small businesses, corporates and government entities. To exhibit, you must first register and then receive a costing tailored to the size of your organisation.

For more information on the exhibition -  Click Here

Awarding Kasi Entrepreneurial Excellence - Apply today!

2024 TEAS. All Rights Reserved.

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