A NEDAs Award is the highest honour bestowed on an SME owner in the Black Umbrellas programme. It awards entrepreneurs on the basis of best performance within the incubation programme, including learning modules completion, engagement rate, and quality submissions as portfolios of evidence.

The overall award winners are SMEs that have shown sustained growth in profitability, sales growth, turnover, net asset value and new jobs created and sustained.

The runners-up and winners are:

Top Entrepreneur – Masakhe Programme

• Winner: Sinazo Ncindi of Noni Property Developments
• Runner-up: Lango Cele of ISHU MSA

Top Entrepreneur – Siyakhula Programme

• Winner: Quinty Rabophala of Kenokatha Farms
• Runner-up: Zazi Makapela of RareRabbit Consulting

Top Entrepreneur – Asindize Programme

• Winner: Johnson Bongani Vetbooi of Bolwa Security Services

Runner-up: Bandile Dlabantu of Khepri Innovations

• Top Entrepreneur – Emerging Technology Business
• Winner: Khanya Rodolo of Kayrod Technologies

Top Entrepreneur – Woman-Owned Business

• Winner: Quinty Rabophala of Kenokatha Farms
• Runner-up: Zazi Makapela of RareRabbit Consulting

Top Entrepreneur – Youth-Owned Business

• Winner: Lydia Jaceni of Komani Health Shop (pty) Ltd
• Runner-up: Khanya Rodolo of Kayrod Technologies

Black Umbrellas Ambassador of the Year

• Winner: Lydia Jaceni of Komani Health Shop (Pty) Ltd

Entrepreneur of the Year Award

• Winner: Johnson Bongani Vetbooi of Bolwa Security Services
• Runner-up: Bandile Dlabantu of Khepri Innovations