A KwaZulu-Natal based farming enterprise owned by a disabled woman entrepreneur has scooped overall prize in the Standard Bank Inclusive Excellence Awards 2026.
Nomfanelo Zondo who owns Eisipho K (Pty) Ltd which specialises in crop and livestock farming, with a strong focus on food security and sustainable agricultural practices, received a cash prize of R100,000.
The Standard Bank Excellence Awards recognise registered small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) led by entrepreneurs living with disabilities across South Africa.
The awards form part of the bank’s Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) strategy, which seeks to advance economic inclusion by supporting businesses that are often excluded from mainstream opportunities due to disability.
Accepting the award, an emotional Zondo said the funding will boost production capacity and help meet growing demand.
“Winning this award is the greatest achievement in the business. Our business is supplying meat, so sometimes we fulfil the capacity of meat as we have a huge demand,” Zondo said.
“I could not believe it when they called my name, I had no idea that I will be an overall winner. This award and funding from Standard Bank will assist us to get more stock to supply and increase our business capacity,” she said.
“Perseverance is the key to success. Thank you so much Standard bank for recognising my business for being the overall winner in the Standard Bank Inclusive Awards, I’m so honoured to receive this award, we will always strive for excellence,” Zondo posted on her Linkedin page.
Advancing inclusive entrepreneurship
Naledzani Mosomane, Head of Enterprise and Supplier Development at Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking, said the initiative is designed to strengthen participation of majority black-owned businesses in the economy.
“The initiative forms part of BCB’s Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) efforts that aim to advance inclusive entrepreneurship by supporting majority black-owned South African businesses to start, manage and grow into sustainable entities,” she said.
Mosomane said the programme is not only about recognition, but about creating pathways to funding, mentorship, procurement opportunities and market access.
A total of seven winners were awarded across various categories, sharing R400,000 in prize money. The recognised enterprises operate in sectors including agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, innovation, arts and culture, as well as youth and community development.
The initiative highlights businesses that are operational, compliant, and contributing meaningfully within their respective sectors, while also strengthening the sustainability goals into formal value chains.
Visually impaired entrepreneur Edward Mnqayana, who runs a construction SMME within Standard Bank’s supplier network, emphasised the importance of building strong business foundations.
“I always say entrepreneurs undermine the importance of building a profile. As SMMEs we have to build profiles and then prioritise profits once we have established those profiles. I always say we are not disabled, just limited and have special needs,” Mnqayana said.
He further encouraged entrepreneurs living with disabilities to focus on credibility, visibility and consistency, noting that these factors are critical in accessing contracts and long-term partnerships, particularly in competitive procurement environments.
“This is where guidance, networking, funding opportunities and growth take place,” he added.
Policy push for inclusion
Mpumalanga MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Jesta Sidell, said initiatives of this nature are essential in addressing economic exclusion faced by people living with disabilities.
“These awards are about inclusion, which means we have to partner with the private sector and financial institutions to assist our SMMEs to develop,” she said.
“These awards are about support for our marginalised groups, which include people with disabilities, as well as our youth and women. We are looking at its impact, even from the provincial government side, to support our SMMEs living with disabilities,” she said.
She added that entrepreneurs with disabilities are already making significant contributions in sectors such as agriculture and tourism.
