Fundi has strengthened its collaborative partnership with the Iwisa No.1 Community Champions Competition, contributing support to the value of over R50 000 to the 2026 initiative. This includes a FundiHealth sponsorship for the top three winners in each of the four participating provinces: the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng and Western Cape, as well as providing them with FundiMobile SIM cards to boost their connectivity and support of the communities they serve.
Now in its fourth year, the competition recognises social entrepreneurs working in South Africa’s townships, peri-urban and rural communities. The 2026 edition drew more than 1 400 entries and carried a total prize pool of R600 000. Winners also receive training, mentorship and business development support in addition to prize money, placing learning at the centre of how these enterprises grow.
This year Fundi’s involvement went well beyond funding – with the team working behind the scenes to actively support the competition’s mechanics. Sphiwe Masuku, Head of Branding at Fundi, served on the judging panel in the Eastern Cape, and the Fundi team took part in the SMME conferences in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng, engaging directly with finalists and local business owners.
“Fundi exists to help people build the futures they want, and a career is not always a job that someone else gives you,” says Masuku. “Many of the entrepreneurs we met have created their own work and work for others, by continuing to learn and by backing themselves. That is self-empowerment in action, and it is exactly the kind of growth we want to support.”
She adds that the alignment is a natural one: “Education and skills development is one of the competition’s six focus sectors, alongside food security and nutrition; health and wellbeing; clean and affordable energy; circular economy and recycling; and digital and tech innovation. In this way its priorities are linked to the SDGs Fundi is also enabling.
“What stood out in the judging room was how much these business owners have taught themselves,” Masuku explains. “They have learnt to manage money, lead teams and solve problems that affect their neighbours. When partners add skills, mentorship and wellbeing support to that determination, people are able to do more and be more. The FundiHealth sponsorship is our way of looking after the person behind the business, because an enterprise can only grow as far as its founder is able to take it.”
Fundi has congratulated all the 2026 winners and finalists, and thanked Iwisa No.1 and Premier FMCG for a platform that continues to grow in reach and impact.
“Congratulations to every winner. You have shown that a future career can be built at home, in the community you know best,” Masuku concludes. “No single organisation can close South Africa’s opportunity gap alone. We can open far more doors together. This year’s competition has been a wonderful reminder of that.”
