Tana Malinga
STANDARD BANK the first bank to honor and recognize “Inclusive Excellence Awards”. Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking (BCB) unveiled the trailblazing winners of its inaugural initiative, spotlighting South Africa’s Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) led by entrepreneurs with disabilities.
More than an awards platform, the initiative signals a decisive shift toward an economy that is both participatory and transformative. Rooted in BCB’s Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) strategy, it aims to accelerate majority black-owned businesses from survival to sustainability—unlocking growth, resilience, and long-term impact.
“The initiative forms part of our commitment to advancing inclusive entrepreneurship,” said Naledzani Mosomane, Head of Enterprise and Supplier Development at Standard Bank South Africa, reinforcing the bank’s strategic focus on widening access to opportunity.
A CELEBRATION OF IMPACT ACROSS SECTORS
This year’s winners reflect a powerful blend of innovation, purpose, and community impact:
Agriculture Award: Setlogong Project 2 (Pty) Ltd, a Limpopo-based poultry enterprise advancing rural empowerment through inclusive farming.
Arts & Culture Award: Me4uTalented Studios (Pty) Ltd, a Free State creative force nurturing emerging talent in film, theatre, and cultural storytelling.
Innovative Business Award: Umba Creative Service, a Gauteng consultancy redefining workplace inclusion through strategy, design, and storytelling.
Manufacturing Award: Seated by Jenkie, a proudly local décor brand producing outdoor furnishings for national retail markets.
Community Champion of the Year: Renature (Pty) Ltd (trading as Eully’s Cakery), empowering township and rural bakers through access to supplies and skills development.
Youth Achievement Award: Abundance Solutions, an Eastern Cape-based youth-led enterprise driving marketing, PR, and development pathways for SMMEs.
Taking top honours, Esisipho K (Pty) Ltd emerged as the Overall Winner, a KwaZulu-Natal agricultural enterprise championing food security through sustainable crop and livestock farming.
VOICES DRIVING THE VISION
Leaders within the organisation underscored the deeper significance of the initiative:
Yaseen Guman highlighted the broader economic imperative:
“The Inclusive Excellence Awards are a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship in South Africa must be accessible to all. By intentionally supporting entrepreneurs with disabilities, we are unlocking innovation that has long been overlooked and enabling businesses that contribute meaningfully to economic growth and job creation.”
Jesta Sidell emphasised the importance of ecosystem building:
“Our role extends beyond financing, we are building ecosystems that allow SMMEs to thrive. These awards showcase what is possible when talent meets opportunity, and they reinforce our commitment to creating pathways for underrepresented entrepreneurs to scale sustainable businesses.”
Lesiba Matladi reflected on the calibre of the winners:
“The calibre of this year’s winners reflects resilience, innovation, and purpose. These entrepreneurs are not only building successful enterprises, but they are also reshaping industries and communities. Their success is a clear indication that inclusive entrepreneurship is essential to South Africa’s future.”
REWARDING EXCELLENCE, REDEFINING PARTICIPATION
The winners share a total prize pool of R400,000, yet beyond the financial reward lies recognition of vision, perseverance, and measurable impact. Each business underwent a rigorous adjudication process, with judges evaluating formal registration, operational sustainability, sector relevance, and strategic clarity.
At its core, the Inclusive Excellence Awards are not merely about recognition, they are about reshaping the contours of South Africa’s economic future. By elevating entrepreneurs with disabilities, Standard Bank is not just funding enterprises, it is championing a new narrative where inclusion drives innovation, and excellence is defined without limits.
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