The SAB Foundation’s 2025 Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards award entrepreneurs millions
Whether in rural villages or busy townships, South Africans are stepping up with solutions that work, and they are getting the support they deserve.
The SAB Foundation’s 2025 Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards spotlighted local ingenuity and resilience on October 14, awarding over R3m in cash prizes to grassroots innovators whose work directly benefits underserved communities.
Held at the Inanda Polo Club, the event honoured game-changing solutions that are not just addressing social and economic challenges but doing so sustainably.
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The Disability Empowerment Award and R1 300 000 grand prize were awarded to White Cane, a revolutionary initiative led by Blind SA.
The innovation sees white canes, essential tools for the blind and partially sighted, locally produced by blind and partially sighted individuals themselves, marking a first for South Africa.
Traditionally imported at high cost, white canes are now affordable and accessible, thanks to this initiative that combines empowerment with practical manufacturing.
Blind SA’s Teboho Lehasa said, “This is more than just making canes. We’re building independence, dignity, and local pride. With increased accessibility, blind and partially sighted individuals can confidently navigate their environments, pursue opportunities, and reclaim their freedom.”
The Social Innovation Award and R1 300 000 prize went to SUM1 Investments, an organisation tapping into the power of stokvel savings to fund informal township and rural businesses.
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Using an innovative asset financing model, SUM1 links collective community savings directly with small-scale entrepreneurs, bypassing traditional banking exclusions.
This dual impact model not only grows stokvel members’ returns but also fuels job creation and business growth in under-resourced areas.
SUM1 Investments co-founder Kurhula Baloyi said, “We saw an opportunity where others saw risk. By giving stokvels a way to invest in local businesses, we are building a bridge between savings and sustainability and strengthening community economies from within.”
SAB Foundation chairperson Moss Ngoasheng praised the spirit of local innovation during his keynote, noting that while not every idea will become a scalable business, all meaningful solutions deserve attention, especially those that blend social impact with financial sustainability.
“This is not about me, or the trustees, or even the foundation,” Ngoasheng said. “It’s about the innovators, those who look at a problem and say, ‘Let me design a solution.’ And if that solution can make a living while serving society, we’ll stand by it all the way.”
He encouraged entrepreneurs to consider the value of their ideas, not just in purpose, but in practical execution:
“If you can answer the question, ‘Who will pay for your solution?’ then you’re not only serving society, you’re building a future.”
In addition to the top awardees, several runners-up across both categories received substantial cash prizes, further enabling their growth and community impact.
The SAB Foundation remains committed to providing ongoing mentorship, support, and development opportunities for all participants in its programmes.
SAB executive director Sarah Mthintso highlighted the unique approach of the SAB Foundation. “We’re not just funding projects. We’re nurturing people, entrepreneurs who have walked hard roads, who bring lived experience to their innovations. We’re investing in solutions by South Africans, for South Africans.”
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