At the same time, women entrepreneurs are shaping their own futures with bold initiatives. Events such as the Women of Stature Awards have an important role to play in affirming and encouraging positive trends in the workplace.
The first EDHE Absa Innovation Challenge provided some interesting results, in that the top 10 student entrepreneurs were judged to be women. Tasked with finding solutions to social problems affecting communities, students from 26 public universities competed for R1-million in prize money.
The gender-financing gap remains a real thing though, and SEDFA’s targeted financing initiative and the joint initiative of Shared Interest, the DG Murray Trust and uMaStandi aim to tackle the lack of capital for women-led businesses head on.
Imbali For Her
Minister of Small Business Development Stella Tembisa Ndabeni officially launched the Imbali For Her Programme in May 2026 in Kimberley. The programme represents a R897-million investment in women’s enterprise development and is expected to support approximately 975 women-owned enterprises across South Africa.
Imbali For Her is a dedicated women’s enterprise development initiative aimed at advancing women’s economic participation and enterprise growth. The launch took place at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre.
Imbali For Her is the first fully integrated SEDFA support initiative that combines financial assistance with non-financial support interventions including business development training, mentorship, entrepreneurship support and market access facilitation.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister Ndabeni described the programme as “a holistic empowerment approach designed to support women-owned enterprises across the entrepreneurial value chain”.
Imbali For Her is structured as a single, unified programme accessible to eligible women entrepreneurs across the country, with enhanced provisions to improve access for women with disabilities, rural women entrepreneurs and township-based enterprises.
The programme offers funding of up to R5-million per enterprise, depending on the stage of the business and the outcome of the viability assessment. Interest rates are structured at prime minus 3% per annum, while women-owned enterprises led by women with disabilities may qualify for funding at prime minus 5% per annum.
The programme reserves 50% of beneficiary slots for women entrepreneurs based in rural areas and townships, and 8% for enterprises owned by women with disabilities.
SEDFA: www.sedfa.org.za • Source: SEDFA and DSBD
Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
Taryn Hunter Sharman, CEO of Faith & Fear creative agency in Gauteng, was named Woman Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2026 Woman of Stature Awards South Africa, recognising her outstanding contribution to business innovation, growth and economic impact. Selected from an exceptional group of finalists, Taryn demonstrated remarkable entrepreneurial vision, resilience and the ability to turn opportunity into sustainable success.
The category was supported by the Johannesburg Business School Centre for Entrepreneurship within the University of Johannesburg, which continues to champion the development of entrepreneurs across South Africa.
“These awards highlight the importance of entrepreneurship in driving economic growth,” said Carol Keshy, Acting Director at the Johannesburg Business School Centre for Entrepreneurship. “Taryn represents the innovation, determination, and courage that define successful entrepreneurs.”
With over 1 000 nominations this year, the awards showcased the depth of entrepreneurial talent among South African women.
Charlotte du Plessis, the founder and CEO of Woman of Stature, added, “Our Entrepreneur of the Year winner embodies what it means to build with purpose and lead with impact. Her journey is an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs across the country.”
