Western Cape entrepreneurs celebrated at 2026 Bambelela Business Awards

The 2026 Western Cape Bambelela Business Awards honoured 20 entrepreneurs whose businesses demonstrate the resilience, innovation and community impact of the province’s emerging business sector. Held under the theme “Empowered MSMEs, Empower Communities”, the 2026 Western Cape edition showed the role of small businesses in strengthening local economies and creating opportunities. The programme supports entrepreneurs through funding, business support, skills development, networks, market access and equipment.

Zola Mbaxa, founder of Just Hearing, took the overall win and received R145 000 in grant funding to support the continued growth of her business. In second place, Puleng Babe founder of Basadi Ambulance received R115 000, while Cikizwa Vanana of Kuyenzeka Amalgamated Projects took third-place receiving R70 000. An additional R19 500 was awarded through the special prizes which included best exhibition stand, early bird and social media competition.

“Winning the Bambelela Business Awards is an incredible honour and a meaningful milestone for Just Hearing. This recognition is a reminder that businesses built with purpose can make a real difference in people’s lives. The funding will allow us to strengthen the business, expand our capacity and continue improving access to quality hearing healthcare. I am deeply grateful to the Hollywood Foundation for creating a platform that gives entrepreneurs like us an opportunity to grow and make an even greater impact,” said Mbaxa.

The winners were announced at a gala dinner held at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse. The event formed part of the Hollywood Foundation’s ongoing efforts to support MSMEs (micro, small and medium-sized enterprises) and celebrate entrepreneurs who are building sustainable businesses.

Mbaxa’s Just Hearing is a proudly South African-owned, independent audiology practice providing hearing healthcare services, including hearing testing, hearing aid services and repairs, ear-wax removal, occupational health services and newborn hearing testing.

Born in Nqamakwe in the Eastern Cape, Mbaxa completed her undergraduate degree in Audiology with Honours at the University of Cape Town, graduating with cum laude. She has experience across both the public and private sectors, including clinical audiology, diagnostics, occupational health, neonatal audiology and medicolegal medicine.

For Mbaxa, the award represents more than financial support. It provides an opportunity to strengthen a business focused on improving access to hearing healthcare and delivering personalised care to patients.

The awards programme forms part of the Hollywood Foundation’s My Business pillar. Launched in Mpumalanga in 2023, the initiative has since expanded to Limpopo, Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. This year the programme has contributed over six million rand in grant funding to entrepreneurs around the country.

The Hollywood Foundation said the Western Cape programme showed the strength, resilience and ambition of entrepreneurs across the province.

“This initiative is for empowering MSMEs in underserved communities around the country with grant funding and access to market. We have seen the great potential of MSMEs when they are supported, mentored and funded. They create employment opportunities in their communities solving one of the most critical issues in our society, unemployment. As the Hollywood Foundation we want to do our bit in promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth and the Bambelela Business Awards is our platform to pursue that goal,” concludes Sphelele Ntombela, Hollywood Foundation Portfolio Manager.

The next Bambelela Business Awards will be in Limpopo taking place on 22 October 2026.

For more information on the Bambelela Business Awards visit, www.hollywoodfoundtaion.co.za.

The 2026 Western Cape Bambelela Business Awards top 20 businesses are:

1. Just Hearing, R145 000
2. Basadi Ambulances, R115 000
3. Kuyenzeka Amalgamated Projects, R100 000
4. Diamond Sparkle Detergents, R45 000
5. Mzansi Business Services, R45 000
6. Agrikey Farming Projects, R45 000
7. Earthleaf, R45 000
8. Soul Harvest, R45 000
9. Bravo Promotions, R45 000
10. Khosi Creations, R45 000
11. Ladyyoee Nails and Beauty Salon, R45 000
12. Khula Khula Transport Services, R45 000
13. House of Joslyn, R45 000
14. Sivise Fishtank Holdings, R45 000
15. Zwezwe Carpet Cleaning Services, R45 000
16. Cents Check, R45 000
17. Victori Studio, R45 000
18. Onrustige Plekkie, R45 000
19. MSI Crafts Emporium and Academy, R45 000
20. Shogoe Solutions, R45 000

**Spot prize winners **

Best exhibition stand – Diamond Sparkle Detergents, R6 250

Early bird – Nutri Hawest, R6 250

Social media competition – Everyday Hospitality and Tourism, R6 250