Heroes building tomorrow's economy also driving enormous social impact

Small businesses are not only driving South Africa’s economy, they’re also creating lasting social impact across communities.

This was celebrated at the inaugural News24 Lula SME Awards at the prestigious Nasdak in Cape Town, with extraordinary women claiming most of the coveted prizes of the night.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and their success deserves to be highlighted and put in front of South Africans,” says Trevor Gosling, CEO and co-founder of Lula. This sentiment perfectly captures the spirit of the inaugural awards on Thursday, 18 September, where South Africa’s most innovative small and medium enterprises were celebrated for their resilience, creativity, and determination.

The evening's winners represented the extraordinary diversity of South African entrepreneurship. From Lindiwe Nkuna-Kgopa's double triumph with Lindiwe Sanitary Pads, winning both Product Business of the Year and the prestigious Small Business of the Year, to the Service Business of the Year recognition for Sethakga Cleaning Company, each story reflected years of determination and strategic thinking.

“It's a pat on the back to say: you are doing it right, keep working hard,” shares Nkuna-Kgopa.

Her business was founded in 2018, becoming the only female-owned, large-scale sanitary pad manufacturers in South Africa and possibly throughout the continent. Today, not only does the company sell its products to customers, but it also supplies the South African government’s National Sanitary Dignity Programme across multiple provinces, a contract that was awarded in 2024.

Women leading the charge

A particularly powerful theme emerged throughout the evening: the role of women in transforming South Africa's business landscape. “As women, we can be proud that we're playing a role in transforming our country and leading the continent,” says Songo Didiza, the co-founder of Green Building Design Group Africa.

Business Networker of the Year winner, Nisha Maharaj of Niche Integrated Solutions, exemplifies this trend, with her award highlighting how connection and community-building have become essential business strategies.

“We believe in community, uplifting each other, and empowering women to lead SMEs that make a difference,” shares Nkuna-Kgopa, capturing the collaborative spirit that defined the evening.

A partnership with purpose

The collaboration between News24 and Lula represents more than just a commercial partnership; it's a strategic alliance between media reach and financial expertise designed to amplify SME success stories.

Minette Ferreira, CEO of Media24 Media, says: “When you support small businesses, you are actually growing the economy.”

Leading the evening's celebrations was Corné Krige, whose journey from Springbok rugby captain to successful entrepreneur made him the perfect ambassador for business excellence.

News24 Business editor, Helena Wasserman, reflects on the critical role SMEs play: “The most successful economies in the world have strong small business sectors. That's where innovation and growth come from.”

The evening sparked crucial conversations about the future of SME support, particularly around how technology and human connection can work together. “Technology should bring us closer together, not leave us feeling isolated,” says Tracy Montague-Fryer of Hlomo Safety, a runner-up.

Looking forward

As the evening concluded with Table Mountain silhouetted against the Cape Town sky, the message was clear: this inaugural ceremony had established something significant.

With R300,000 distributed across five categories and countless connections made between entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders, the News24 Lula SME Awards proved that recognition and relationship-building remain powerful catalysts for business growth.

This article was produced by the Advertising and Content Marketing team of Media24 for Lula.