EMALAHLENI – Channel2Fitness (Pty) Ltd was announced as the overall winner of the 10th edition of the Bambelela Business Awards 2025, hosted by the Hollywood Foundation.
The awards ceremony, held on Wednesday, May 28, at The Ridge Casino, celebrated the positive impact of Small to Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) in communities and their vital role in job creation across the province.
The prestigious event, which included a gala dinner, followed two days of workshops and pitching seminars from May 26 to 27, at eMalahleni’s Civic Hall, where entrepreneurs from across Mpumalanga showcased their businesses.
Channel2Fitness, a youth-owned gym based in eMalahleni, walked away with R130 000 in prize money. The owner, Themba Mahlalela, said he plans to reinvest the funds and create more employment opportunities for local youth.
“I’ll be making sure that I double the amount to R260 000. I’m committed to hiring more young people in the community,” he told Highveld Chronicle.
Themba explained that he started the gym in 2018 at the back of his parents’ house, with no financial support.
“I was the only employee, and I had two customers, with a monthly turnover of R100,” he recalled.
“COVID-19 hit me hard in 2021, but I managed to rebuild from scratch.”
He said the customer base later grew to five, increasing turnover to over R500 a month. With support from the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), he was able to employ four people.
However, Themba emphasised that the gym is not just about building muscles – it’s about building the community.
“This business is for the people. We do a lot of giving back to the community, especially this month,” he said.
He believes their social impact might have impressed the judges. “We collect clothes from clients who’ve lost weight and donate them. We also cook for the community and offer free Wi-Fi so kids can do their homework,” he added.
“We’re a business that serves the people. It all comes down to the impact we make. I encourage all businesses out there to go out and make a difference.”
This year’s awards, themed “Building a Sustainable Economy through Agriculture, the Green Economy, and Tourism,” involved an investment of R1 million to support SMMEs financially while offering a platform for networking, collaboration, and mentorship – reaffirming the long-term commitment to sustainable growth in the province.
The awards were attended by the MEC of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Makhosazane Masilela, who commended the Hollywood Foundation for its unwavering commitment to empowering SMMEs.
“Your partnership in championing the resilience, creativity and innovation of our SMMEs is not only commendable but deeply aligned with our collective vision of inclusive and transformative economic development,” said MEC Masilela.
She further encouraged the more than 100 entrepreneurs who pitched their businesses to actively contribute to building the province’s economy.
“You are the architects of a new economy. Your creativity, your hustle, and your ability to adapt are not only building businesses – they are building the very future of our province. Do not underestimate your effort.”
Top Three Winners of the Night:
First-Prize Winner and recipient of R130 000: Channel2Fitness (Pty) Ltd
Second-Prize Winner and recipient of R100 000: Charged Up (Pty) Ltd
Third-Prize Winner and recipient of R70 000: Siphiwisizwe (Pty) Ltd
The remaining 17 SMMEs each received R40 000 in support of their continued growth and development.
Babongile Mkhize, Group Transformation Manager for Hollywoodbets, shared her thoughts on the event’s success:
“We are proud to support the Bambelela Business Awards and the incredible work being done to uplift SMMEs across the country. Events like these show the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors, and the powerful impact such partnerships can have in driving meaningful economic growth and transformation.””
