• This campaign will run on 702 from 25 March 2026. Entries close on Friday 10 April 2026 and the winner will be announced at the 702 MTN Small Business Awards event on Thursday 23 April 2026.
• To participate, listeners must visit the Primedia Plus website and enter their small business into the competition.
• They need to complete the form on the page.
• Qualifying criteria:
o Must be SARS compliant
o Must have been in operation for at least 12 months prior to entry.
o Must demonstrate active contribution to job creation (e.g., employing at least two full-time employees).
o The business must be a South African registered business.
o No liquor stores, firearm sales, gambling businesses or NPO/NGOs may enter.
• Judging will be done by a panel made up of MTN and 702 representatives.
• Finalists will be profiled twice a day on 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa and 702 Drive with John Perlman. The companies that will be profiled are expected to be in studio for the interview.
• Profiling will be done on air and on the Primedia Plus website.
• Entrants consent to being featured on the MTN SME hub and other MTN Platforms as deemed necessary for this campaign.
• Images, audio and videos from the interviews of the finalists will be used for profiling and promotional purposes.
• Once a business has been selected as a finalist, they will be requested to submit all the necessary documentation for verification.
• The finalists are required to participate in the final judging process with representatives from MTN and 702 in person at a location to be confirmed with finalists. All details will be timeously shared with each finalist, who will be allocated a specific time to interact with the judging panel.
• Finalists will be required to cover their own travel cost to attend the judging and the awards event if successful.
• The judges decision is final.
• One winner and two runner ups will be selected and announced on Thursday 23 April 2026 at the awards event at Primedia Place.
• The on-air winner announcement will take place during 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa on Tuesday 28 April 2026.
• Finalists will be consulted on availability prior to receiving an invite and if not present at the judging, they will be disqualified immediately.
PRIZES
• Business Cash Boost (Flexible funding for urgent needs or growth opportunities)
o First Place: R25 000
o Second Place: R20 000
o Third Place: R15 000
• Generic Advertising Package from 702
o The Grand Prize Winner will receive a R200 000 Generic advertising package from 702.
o The first and second runner ups will each receive a R100 000 Generic advertising package on 702.
o The Generic advertising package will have to be used before 31 December 2026.
o T&C’s apply.
• Business Growth Support
o Market Access: Opportunity to participate in a Market Movers mall stall with 702, gaining new customer access and retail experience. This excludes any costs associated with taking up the opportunity.
o Tailored Business Support: MTN provides resources, products, or funding to address the winner’s specific growth needs.
• The prize is not negotiable, not transferrable, and the advertising package portion of the prize cannot be exchanged for cash.
• The participant's business must be located within Gauteng.
• 702 and MTN will not be held liable for entries not received for any reason, and will not be responsible for network connectivity, hardware or any other issues experienced while participating.
• Participants or their businesses will not be able to participate or be selected as a winner if they have received a prize on any Primedia station within the period 90 days prior to the Small Business Awards campaign commencing, whether on-air, online or via any of the station’s social-media platforms.
• If a winner cannot be successfully contacted, is ineligible to accept the prize for any reason, or contravenes these terms and conditions or those of 702 or MTN, they will forfeit the prize.
• Primedia, 702 and MTN reserve the right to cancel or amend this campaign and these terms and conditions without prior notice.
• Participants will be notified of any changes to the campaign as soon as reasonably possible by Primedia verbally and in writing.
• Employees of MTN, Primedia Broadcasting and 702 and their immediate family and friends may not enter the campaign.
• The personal information that is collected from a participant and processed by Primedia Proprietary Limited (“Primedia”) is done with the participant’s consent and in accordance with the Primedia Privacy Notice, available at primedia.co.za. The personal information that a participant provides to Primedia in entering this competition will be processed purely for the purposes related and ancillary to this competition. Primedia will not share a participant’s personal information further unless required in terms of law or a legitimate business purpose. A participant may write to Primedia at [email protected] if they have any questions.
• By entering this campaign, a participant agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions.
• Participants can send all questions to [email protected].
• All other standard terms and conditions apply. Primedia Plus.
In the bustling landscape of South Africa's economy, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) stand as the backbone, driving growth and fostering innovation. These dynamic entities, numbering in the tens of thousands, play a pivotal role, constituting 91% of formalised businesses and employing around 60% of the labour force, contributing significantly to the GDP. Particularly in rural areas where entrepreneurship thrives, SMEs provide an essential lifeline with 71% of local jobs relying on their entrepreneurial spirit.
Despite their monumental impact, SMEs often face hurdles in accessing crucial resources and knowledge. Recognising this challenge, MTN has embarked on a mission to empower SMEs, aligning with its vision to democratise connectivity across South Africa and the continent. Through innovative products and services, MTN has been a catalyst for SME growth, offering tailored solutions like Made for Skhokho, a prepaid business offer providing essential telecommunications services at accessible rates.
Introducing the MTN SME HUB—a groundbreaking initiative designed to be the ultimate resource centre for SMEs, providing a gateway to a wealth of tools, insights, and knowledge to fuel business growth. It's more than just a platform; it's a conduit to digital transformation, e-commerce strategies, cybersecurity measures, AI integration, sustainable practices, financial management, and beyond.
"We envision MTN SME HUB as the premier online destination for entrepreneurs seeking empowerment and business enablement" shares Songezo Masiso, GM of SME and Indirect Channels at MTN Business.
Accessible via www.mtnsmehub.co.za, the platform invites SME owners to subscribe and embark on a journey of discovery and growth. With a comprehensive range of resources segmented into four key categories—Connect my Business, Build my Business, Manage my Business, and Feature my Business—MTN SME HUB caters to every stage of the entrepreneurial journey.
Collaborating with esteemed content providers and industry experts, such as The Sales Enablement Company, MTN SME HUB offers invaluable tools like the 'SME Sales Playbook' empowering businesses to identify and maximise sales opportunities. And this is just the beginning; additional services slated for 2024 promise to further enrich the SME experience.
For SMEs poised to thrive in today's competitive landscape, the MTN SME HUB is more than a platform—it's a partner in success, providing the resources and support needed to turn aspirations into achievements. Visit the MTN SME HUB today and unlock the full potential of your business.
© Small Business Awards with MTN