Best of Ermelo nominations now open

The spotlight is on Ermelo’s standout businesses, services and institutions as nominations open for the Highvelder’s Best of Ermelo Reader’s Choice Awards.

From places to eat and shop, to the services you rely on every day, Ermelo boasts a wealth of local excellence.

This new annual competition enables readers to determine who truly deserves top honours, while celebrating the individuals and businesses that go the extra mile and make a meaningful difference in the community.

Recognising quality and commitment

The Best of Ermelo Reader’s Choice Awards serves as a platform to acknowledge quality, commitment and consistency across the local business landscape. Online nominations are now open and will close at midnight on January 30.

This is the ideal opportunity for businesses and individuals to be recognised for their reputation, service delivery, professionalism, value for money and customer satisfaction.

How to nominate

To submit a nomination, visit www.highvelder.co.za click on ‘Best Of’ on the homepage, and select the category in which you wish to nominate a business or individual.

Choose from the available sub-categories and complete the online form by entering the name and location of the business or branch, along with your own email address and complete the Captcha form.

Only businesses operating within the Msukaligwa Local Municipality will be eligible. Valid email addresses are required, and one nomination per category may be submitted per day per email address.

What happens next?

Once nominations close and have been verified, the official voting phase will begin – bringing Ermelo one step closer to naming its best of the best. Readers will then get the chance to vote for the nominated businesses/services/individuals.

Rules and Regulations

With regard to the voting process and the determination of category winners, and following stringent calculations and an independent audit of the Best of Ermelo Readers’ Choice Awards 2025, Caxton Local Media and its external auditors confirm the following rules and regulations:

Voting period

The competition is open for voting from 15 December 2025 to 30 January 2026, closing at midnight on the final day.

Digital entries only

The competition is conducted exclusively in digital format. Only online entries will be accepted.

Image ownership

All images submitted via the publication’s website become the property of Caxton Local Media.

Discrepancies and orchestrated mailing

Should any discrepancies be identified within submitted categories or entries, or if votes appear to form part of orchestrated mailing, such entries will be discarded and the business or institution concerned will be disqualified.

Mass or suspicious voting

Mass voting from the same device or location, as well as suspicious duplicate votes that do not reflect genuine individual opinions, will be invalidated.

Solicitation or bribery

Any form of solicitation, incentivisation or bribery to obtain votes is strictly prohibited. Businesses found engaging in such practices will face immediate disqualification.

Minimum nominations requirement

Any sub-category receiving fewer than three nominations will not qualify for the voting phase.