The SmartXchange MICTe (Media, Information Communication Technology and Electronics) business incubator celebrated its annual SMME awards at the Durban Country Club. The event, which is held annually, honours the achievements of SMMEs as well as recognises those who have completed the three-year incubation period and are ready to graduate.

The event featured Councillor Bongumusa Mkhize of the eThekwini Municipality as the keynote speaker as well as the executive head of Vodacom Business, Eleni Kwinana as lead event sponsor. Both speakers reinforced their commitment toward SmartXchange and its developmental programmes in the incubation ecosystem.

SmartXchange currently has its head office in Durban and its satellite branch in Port Shepstone. A new centre has been activated in KwaMashu. This centre will service the areas in the PINK (Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu) precinct, in a bid to address challenges within these communities and develop solutions through innovation. The KwaMashu centre will operate as a digital hub.

The latter part of the event was dedicated to SMMEs who excelled in terms of revenue, job creation and innovation within their businesses.

Winners in the following categories were:

BEST NEWCOMER:
Winner: Yandisa Madolo: Black Cotton Marketing
Runner-Up: Siphamandla Chere: Sikephi App

ICT WOMEN OF THE YEAR:
Winner: Reshma Maharaj: Enspired Women Magazine
Runner-Up: Nozibele Zondi: Nubia Advertising and Promotions

SMME OF THE YEAR:
Winner Gabhisa Khuluse: Emakhuluseni Kuhle Enterprises
Runner- Up: Reshma Maharaj: Enspired Women Magazine 

www.smartxchange.co.za