By Given Motswiane
news@alexreporter.co.za
The long-awaited Top 16 Youth Owned-Brands Awards are back in their second year and this time,they will be bigger and better than last year.
The awards were launched on 2 February 2023 in Sandton with the multi-faceted young and aspiring entrepreneurs.
These spectacular awards are designed to recognize the excellence, innovation and hard work of young South African brands doing great things.
South Africa’s youth unemployment rate remains a persistent problem, but the brands are trying to bridge the gap through the opportunities they have created for themselves and other people.
The awards are founded by Pat Mahlangu and are composed of 16 categories of various economic perimeters.
Categories vary from Top Travel and Tourism Brand, Top Education Brand to Top Personality and Influencer.
Among last year’s winners were Tshepo Jeans for the Top brand, Bathu for the Top Footwear brand and Deliver ka Speed for the Top Innovative category.
“I want to see designers from Alexandra, Depsloot, Soweto— all the disadvantaged townships leading and being recognised in the enterprenual Industry,” said Mahlangu.
Mahlangu said the awards would ensure that “we honour and encourage them to do what they like and their brands to gain right recognition”.
He also spoke about the importance of youth participation in the awards.
“This is the second year of the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards and we are planning for it to be the best one.
“What started off as an online portal for celebrating brands turned into what the youth-owned brands awards are right now.
“We celebrate the youth and commend them for being able to create opportunities in situations that seem impossible,” he said.
One of last year’s winners, Tshepo Molepo is well-known for his clothing label, Tshepo Jeans.
The opportunity to participate on the awards, he said, made his brand to have customers and a great market in the enterprenual industry.
He said that this recognition gave them the opportunity to become known in different provinces and to get many orders across the country.
“I will encourage lots of young entrepreneurs in the townships to participate in the awards,” said Molepo
The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards is set to take place on the 15th of June 2023, the day before one of the most memorable moments in the history of South Africa.
“Young people are the future, and this event not only recognises that, but also commemorates the youth that fought for our freedom before,” added Mahlangu.