We Care Wellness Clinic has been announced as the 2026 IWISA No 1 Community Champion in the Western Cape. Facing exceptional competition from deserving finalists across the region, Amanda Nkwitshi, the social entrepreneur behind We Care, will return home to her community equipped with R70 000 in prize money, comprehensive business development support and renewed motivation to continue making a real difference in Khayalitsha – the community her remarkable social enterprise serves.
Amanda Nkwitshi from We Care Wellness Clinic; Beanca Campher from Eclessia Enterprises; and Cheryl-Lynn Freeman from Mzansi Business Services were named first, second and third place winners of the Western Cape IWISA No 1 Community Champions competition at the Newlands Rugby Stadium in Cape Town on 17 September 2026.
Guests, supporters and fellow champions applauded enthusiastically when IWISA No 1’s expert judging panel made the much-anticipated announcements – having witnessed a compelling session of presentations by the seven remarkable social enterprises shortlisted from the region. Each of the three winners takes home their share of the R150 000 in prize money allocated to the province, as well as access to comprehensive training, mentorship and ongoing business development support that will ensure they further build, grow and sustain their social enterprises.
Now in its fourth year, the IWISA No 1 Community Champions competition is one of the brand’s flagship initiatives, recognising social entrepreneurs operating within South Africa’s townships, peri-urban and rural communities. “This year’s edition has very special significance as Iwisa No 1 is celebrating 70 years of filling tummies and nourishing families,” says Phumzile Nhlapo, Premier Senior Brand Manager: Consumer Staples. “The event was specifically themed ‘Heroes, Heroines and Heritage’ – a tribute to both the legacy that has carried the brand for seven decades, and to the people who continue to write the next chapter of that story in their own communities. We are here to honour them tonight.”
Speaking at the event she noted that: “Seventy years is more than a number. It is a promise kept in every home, in every meal that gave a family the strength to start or end another day. Our heritage has been built on the belief that when we come together around something real, extraordinary things grow. This competition is the most authentic expression of that belief. It finds the heroes and heroines already at work in our communities, equips them, celebrates them and walks with them long after the spotlight fades. Today in the Western Cape, we have met seven of them.”
In line with South Africa’s national development priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the 2026 competition was open to social enterprises trading formally for more than two years and creating tangible impact in food security and nutrition; education and skills development; health and wellbeing; clean and affordable energy; circular economy and recycling; and digital and tech innovation. “These are the sectors that will define the futures of our communities,” Nhlapo adds. “We set out to find the people who are already building solutions in these spaces, and to give them what they need to grow.”
The call drew over 1 400 entries nationally across the four participating provinces, of which 180 came from the Western Cape.
In a major development for 2026, the total prize value was increased to R600 000, invested across the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng and Western Cape. Three winners in each province share R150 000 in cash prizes: R70 000 for first place, R50 000 for second and R30 000 for third. “The R70 000 first prize is a direct celebration of Iwisa No 1’s 70 years of ‘filling good together’ in our communities,” says Nhlapo, “and it speaks to our ongoing commitment to earning the right to operate in these regions.”
This year’s expanded support network – including value-adding partnerships with Nedbank; Fundi; Old Mutual; Credit Guarantee; BizBuddy SA; ARC Consulting and Kamva Capital, among others – has effectively multiplied the total value of support available to finalists beyond the R600 000 prize pool, meaning their journey will continue well beyond today’s event.
“The 2026 competition has been extraordinary in both scale and impact,” says Nhlapo. “What makes it particularly special is how our partners answered our call to amplify impact – creating a support ecosystem that extends far beyond prize money to include comprehensive skills development, business bootcamps and ongoing mentorship for every finalist across our four provinces.”
Celebrating her victory, Nkwitshi expressed her gratitude, dedicating the win to her team and the community she serves: “This R70 000 investment, combined with the training, mentorship and network access we will receive, represents so much more for our SME. We are going to use our win to grow our facilities and solutions – ensuring we can care for and assist even more community members. We’re not just building a business. We’re building hope.”
Nhlapo closed the gala dinner by acknowledging the “champions behind the champions”: the expanded family of individuals and partners who made the 2026 competition possible. “Seventy years has taught us that when purpose meets partnership, extraordinary things happen. To everyone who has made today possible; thank you for believing in the power of social entrepreneurship to transform communities. Your dedication has created something truly special.”
As for the future of IWISA No 1’s Community Champions initiative? “We remain committed to feeding and building communities, and to making everyday people’s every day lives better. Through this initiative we will continue empowering communities and individuals by igniting fresh thinking and unlocking new tools that add real value to South Africa’s social entrepreneurs. These remarkable individuals are not just solving community challenges: they’re proving that business can be a powerful force for good. For 70 years, Iwisa No.1 has filled plates, homes and hearts. This is how we fill futures,” she concludes.
