Social entrepreneurs, the wait is over! Iwisa No.1 has officially launched the 2025 edition of its flagship Community Champions Competition – an annual purpose-led initiative that celebrates SMMEs creating waves of positive change and impact in their communities.
Launched online this week, the Iwisa No.1 Community Champions Competition recognises township, rural and peri-urban businesses that are quietly solving South Africa’s most pressing challenges – from food insecurity to youth unemployment, all the way through to education inequality and environmental sustainability. The competition is their platform to be seen, supported and celebrated: honouring everyday South African heroes and heroines driving extraordinary change.
“The competition is inspired by the fundamental belief that each of us is able to do good and bring positive change. This is made even more powerful when we do it together,” says Sibongile Mooko, Premier Executive: Marketing and Insights. “There are thousands of South Africans working tirelessly to uplift and empower communities across the country. So many of their stories remain untold and their impact unacknowledged. Through this competition, we want to find them, engage with them and give them tools to scale their impact. We want to shine a spotlight on their contributions and the challenges they face so that others can put up their hands to help and support them too.”
Now in its third year, the competition went live on 15 June 2025. “It was important for us to launch in Youth Month as one of the brand’s youth-focused initiatives,” explains Mooko. “So much positive change an impact is being driven by our young people in our communities. Year-on-year they remain some of our most inspiring entrants – looking at pervasive challenges in new ways to find innovative solutions.”
The competition is open to social enterprises that have been operating for more than two years and are based in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng or Western Cape. “Eligible businesses must address a clear social or environmental issue while also being financially active.”
Applications close on 31 July 2025 and must be submitted using the application form link available here on the Iwisa No 1 website: https://qr.premierfmcg.com/website/2000 (arrow to the right will show Community Champions competition information).
The top ten finalists from each region will take part in expert-led pitch workshops to prepare them to compete in the in-person regional finals: “Finalists will be competing for their share of R240 000 in funding, with each region allocating R30 000, R20 000 and R10 000 to the first, second and third place winners respectively.” All regional winners will also attend a business bootcamp and receive three months of dedicated mentorship, ensuring that the impact of the competition extends far beyond the cash prize.
“In line with South Africa’s national development priorities of the G20 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we’re excited to announce that this year’s competition will focus specifically on SMMEs contributing directly towards food security and nutrition; education and skills development; health and wellbeing; clean and affordable energy; circular economy and recycling; or digital and tech innovation,” she adds. “These are critical sectors that will define the futures of our local communities. We want to identify entrepreneurs already building solutions in these spaces and help them to grow.”
As in previous years, the competition is driven by Iwisa No.1’s brand purpose: to build stronger communities and enable the individuals in them by creating opportunity and recognition. “Our supporting tagline of ‘Together we don’t just do good. We fill good’ speaks to the collective power of community, and the good that is created when corporates, citizens and entrepreneurs unite for change,” says Mooko. “Iwisa No 1 has always been a brand that brings people together to share, support and inspire each other. This year we’re taking that a step further in each participating region by working closely with key stakeholders to amplify the competition’s impact. Keep watching this space!”
In a world where bad news often dominates the headlines, the Iwisa No.1 Community Champions Competition is a celebration of hope and purpose: something we all need. “We’re calling on all impact-makers to enter and for South Africans to support them. Yours are stories that deserve the spotlight – of people shaping South Africa’s future one business, one job, one act of good at a time,” she concludes. “We wish you all every success with your application.”