The Township Economy Summit is a national platform bringing together township entrepreneurs, government, corporate South Africa, investors, business support organisations and industry leaders.

The Summit focuses on practical opportunities including market access, funding, policy, industry opportunities, business development, networking and economic participation.

The 2026 Township Economy Summit will take place on Thursday, 19 November 2026 and Friday, 20 November 2026.

Attendance to the Summit is free, however registration is required. The Township Economy Awards will follow on Saturday, 21 November 2026.

The Township Economy Summit and Township Economy Awards form part of the same three-day platform but serve different purposes.

The Summit is a two-day business gathering focused on learning, opportunities, networking and connecting township entrepreneurs with the wider business ecosystem.

The Awards recognise outstanding township entrepreneurs and businesses through a formal entry and adjudication process.

Registering for the Summit does not automatically enter your business into the Awards. Entering the Awards also does not automatically register you for the Summit.

For the standard business categories, businesses must meet the official eligibility requirements for the 2026 Township Economy Awards.

These include applicable requirements relating to South African ownership, township business operations, CIPC registration, small business classification, annual turnover, required compliance documentation and a minimum of two years in operation.

Applicants should review the full eligibility criteria and Terms and Conditions before submitting an entry.

A township-based business is an enterprise whose primary operations, customer base, business premises or significant economic activity takes place within a recognised South African township.

Applicants may be required to provide information confirming where the business operates.

Yes. Applicants entering the Township Economy Awards must have a registered business and provide a valid CIPC registration number.

Supporting company registration documentation may be requested as part of the verification process.

To qualify for the Township Economy Awards, your business must have been operating for a minimum of two years at the time of entry.

Applicants may be required to provide supporting information or documentation confirming the period the business has been operating.

Businesses should enter the category that best represents their primary business activity.

Where appropriate, the Township Economy Awards administration team may recommend that an entry be considered under a more suitable category.

The Township Economy Awards recognise businesses across different sectors of the township economy.

The full list of 2026 categories and their respective criteria is available on the Awards Categories section of the Township Economy Awards website.

In addition to the main business categories, the Township Economy Awards recognise exceptional entrepreneurs, leaders and brands through a number of special awards.

These include Youth Entrepreneur of the Year, Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Male Entrepreneur of the Year, Township Brand of the Year, Chairman’s Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.

The eligibility and selection process may differ depending on the specific recognition award.

Yes. You may nominate another qualifying entrepreneur or business for an applicable Township Economy Award.

The person or business being nominated must meet the relevant eligibility requirements. Submitting a nomination does not automatically make the nominee a finalist or award recipient.

Yes. You may nominate yourself or your business for an eligible Township Economy Award category provided that you meet the applicable entry criteria.

No. Entry into the Township Economy Awards is free.

There is no application or nomination fee to enter the Awards.

Applicants should be ready to provide relevant information about themselves and their businesses. This may include business and founder details, CIPC registration information, township or area of operation, a business description, products or services, business achievements, employment created, business growth information where requested, community or economic impact and supporting information or documentation.

Applicants should ensure that all information provided is accurate.

Applicants may be required to provide supporting documents including CIPC registration documents, a company profile, a B-BBEE affidavit or certificate where applicable, proof of business address, supporting evidence of business achievements and other relevant documentation requested as part of the entry or verification process.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the information submitted is correct.

Where an amendment is required after submission, applicants should contact the Township Economy Awards team before entries close. Changes may not be accepted once the entry period has closed or the adjudication process has commenced.

Entries for the 2026 Township Economy Awards close on Wednesday, 7 October 2026.

All entries must be fully completed and submitted before the official closing deadline. Applicants are encouraged not to wait until the final day to submit their entries.

Late entries will not normally be accepted after the official closing deadline unless TEA formally announces an extension through its official communication platforms.

Eligible entries will be assessed against the official Township Economy Awards criteria.

The highest-performing qualifying businesses and entrepreneurs within the respective categories may be shortlisted as finalists subject to verification and final adjudication.

Being selected as a finalist does not guarantee an award.

Successful finalists will be contacted directly using the contact information provided during the entry process.

Finalists may also be announced on the Township Economy Awards website and TEA’s official communication platforms.

Applicants should ensure that their email address and cellphone number are correct when entering.

Finalists will receive official communication from the Township Economy Awards team outlining the next steps.

Finalists may be required to confirm their participation, provide outstanding verification information, supply photographs, logos or company information, participate in Awards-related media or promotional activities and confirm attendance at the Township Economy Awards.

All requirements and important dates will be communicated directly to finalists.

Finalists are strongly encouraged to attend the Township Economy Awards ceremony.

Where a finalist is unable to attend, they should notify the Awards team in advance regarding the appropriate arrangements.

Yes. Each confirmed finalist will receive two complimentary tickets to the Township Economy Awards.

The allocation provides admission for the finalist and one guest. Any additional tickets required will need to be purchased separately, subject to availability.

Yes. The Township Economy Awards ceremony is a ticketed engagement.

Ticket information, pricing and booking details will be communicated through the official Township Economy Awards website and TEA communication platforms.

This is separate from the Township Economy Summit, which is free to attend subject to registration and capacity.

Yes. Parking will be available inside Hospital View Sports Ground.

Parking within the venue is subject to capacity. Should the internal parking areas reach capacity, attendees will be required to make use of available parking outside the venue.

Further arrival and parking information will be communicated closer to the Awards.

Yes. Hospital View Sports Ground will be accessible to persons with disabilities attending the Township Economy Awards.

Attendees requiring specific assistance are encouraged to communicate their requirements to the Awards team ahead of the ceremony so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Yes. The Township Economy Summit and Township Economy Awards will be livestreamed on TEA’s official YouTube channel, allowing audiences who cannot attend physically to follow the programme online.

TEA YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Townshipentrepreneurs

No. Previous Township Economy Awards winners may not participate in the Awards again.

Previous finalists who did not win remain eligible to enter, provided they meet the current eligibility criteria and Terms and Conditions.

Yes. An entrepreneur may enter a maximum of two separate businesses into the Township Economy Awards.

Each business must be registered as a separate legal entity, independently meet the Awards eligibility criteria, complete its own entry and comply with the Township Economy Awards Terms and Conditions.

TEA reserves the right to disqualify an entry where information supplied during the entry, nomination or verification process is found to be materially false, misleading or unverifiable.

Where necessary, TEA may request additional information to verify an entry.

TEA reserves the right to withdraw an award where material information subsequently comes to light that would have resulted in the recipient being ineligible or disqualified from the Awards.

Decisions made through the Township Economy Awards adjudication process are final.

Administrative queries may be submitted to the Awards team but final award decisions are not subject to appeal.

Information submitted as part of an Awards entry will be handled for the purposes of administering, evaluating and communicating the Township Economy Awards.

Certain business information, photographs, founder information and business profiles may be published where an applicant is selected as a finalist or winner.

Sensitive or confidential information submitted specifically for verification or adjudication will be handled in line with applicable requirements.

For assistance with the Township Economy Awards, applicants can contact the TEA team using the official Awards contact details published on the Township Economy Awards website.