Applications for the 12th annual SAB Foundation Social Innovation Awards and 7th annual Disability Empowerment Awards are open for entry. Entrepreneurs and innovators who have developed products and services that assist the country’s most vulnerable communities including women, youth, people living with disabilities and those living in rural areas are strongly encouraged to apply.

The South African corporate sector invests millions each year to support community development and social programmes. Many corporates, however, often lack the tools to measure and report on the impact of these initiatives.

Siyanda Mthethwa, founder of Kuloola, South Africa’s first rural online grocery store, was the overall winner in the SAB Foundation Social Innovation Award while Ernest Majenge, creator of the Ruby Wheel Chair, walked away with the first prize in the Disability Empowerment Awards Category.

Sustainable rural farming solutions, assistive mechanisms for people living with disabilities and cashless payment systems are all innovations that solve social challenges and uplift communities.

The impact of the recent looting and unrest in parts of our country has profoundly impacted many of the entrepreneurs we work with. It not only resulted in stunted growth of their businesses, but has also threatened their livelihoods and diminished their sense of safely, trust and hope.

The SAB Foundation is calling for entrepreneurs who are committed to boosting their growth and achieving new levels of success to apply for its Tholoana Enterprise Programme 2021.

The SAB Foundation has created an opportunity for entrepreneurs and innovators with solutions that address or prevent alcohol misuse.

The SAB Foundation is hiring

This past year has tested the small business sector as they faced new challenges such as physical restrictions, multiple lockdowns and loss of revenue. But out of this crisis, one group of entrepreneurs has emerged stronger.

An entrepreneur is a term we hear a lot in this country and South Africa has a wealth of them. These are individuals who undertake risk, who show passion and initiative, with the end goals of financial profit and benefits for their communities.

Applications for the 11th annual SAB Foundation Social Innovation Awards and 6th annual Disability Empowerment Awards are open for entry and eligible entrepreneurs are strongly encouraged to apply.

Meat Naturally and Agricool Finance were awarded joint first place in the 10th Annual Social Innovation Awards, while Leafline Washable Sanitary Wear scooped first place in the Disability Empowerment Awards.

The SAB Foundation has announced the 17 finalists in its tenth annual Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards. The final winners, including six finalists in its fifth annual Disability Empowerment Awards, will be announced at a virtual award ceremony on 9 February 2021.

Essential oils: A balm for emerging farmers

When the COVID-19 pandemic reached South Africa, Paul Talliard immediately saw the need to promote hygiene life-skills to children in informal communities. In South Africa, approximately three million people live in informal settlements and the high density nature of these dwellings, paired with limited access to basic services such as running water, sanitation and waste collection, makes their inhabitants extremely vulnerable to the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19.

The national lockdown is a source of concern for many small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs), who have limited cash reserves and rely on a steady income to keep their doors open. However, South African entrepreneurs have proven themselves to be resilient and adaptable and they are a source of great pride and inspiration to the nation. To help our invaluable SMME owners, the government has announced a series of funding schemes.

The SAB Foundation has decided to extend the deadline for applications to their 10th annual SAB Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards to 30 March 2020 at 10am.