The Best of Emalahleni Readers’ Choice Awards is the city’s ultimate celebration of excellence.
This year, thousands of residents cast their votes to crown the businesses, personalities, and places that make eMalahleni shine.

It’s a community tradition that honors passion, service, and innovation.

Hosted by WITBANK NEWS, the awards gave residents the power to vote for their favorite restaurants, shops, services, and entertainment venues, shining a spotlight on the heartbeat of the City of Coal.

In a recap of the 2025 awards, over 29,000 votes poured in, proving just how much locals love to support their favourites.

The Winners who stole the spotlight included:

. Best Breakfast– Pizza Del Forno Restaurant
. Best Coffee Shop – Pizza Del Forno Restaurant
. Best Florist – Kiley’s Florist & Gift Shop
. Best Service Provider – Reliability and customer care at its finest.
. Best Medical Centre- Life Cosmos Hospital
. Best Beauty Salon – FWS Hair Creations
. Best Men’s Barber- Blade Barber

According to Zita Goldswain, WITBANK NEWS editor, the prestigious award is a testament to the hard work and dedication each winner has invested in their business.

“It is a powerful endorsement that their customer service and products have not only met, but exceeded the expectations of the community. This recognition speaks to the heart of what makes a business successful – a relationship with customers,” Zita said.

Adding to that, she further emphasised that the success of the awards highlights the crucial partnership between businesses and their clients.

The votes show that the customer values quality and customer service, and you are getting that from locally based businesses and you are buying local.

eMalahleni is a vibrant business hub, and local businesses are the engines that make this city run.

From the hairdresser to the contractor, to the hardware store and the restaurant that served generations, these businesses are the heartbeat of the City of Coal.

“Let’s carry this momentum forward, ensuring that our local businesses remain the cornerstone of our city’s prosperity. Congratulations to all the deserving winners of the Best of Emalahleni Reader’s Choice Awards. The event was a true celebration of local business excellence, recognising the commitment, quality, and passion that make our community,” said Zita.

Please be mindful that Best of Emalahleni is back and running for 2026–Vote for the best.
This is how you nominate your favourites for the 2025 Best of Emalahleni Awards.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/4v8j3fzp

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