The MTN SA Foundation this year, celebrates the fourth anniversary of its R1 million MTN Women in Digital Business Challenge by providing accomplished women entrepreneurs with an opportunity to expand their businesses and reinforce the vital role South African women are playing in the country’s competitive ICT sector.

“At the launch event held in Johannesburg, the 10 finalists were announced, each receiving R100,000 in working capital along with mentorship support for their tech businesses. They now form part of a growing network of 30 women-owned enterprises which, since the inaugural competition in 2022, have been able to sustain and expand their operations while actively contributing to the digital economy,” says Arthur Mukhuvha, General Manager of the MTN SA Foundation.

In attendance was the Deputy Minister for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Hon. Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, whose keynote addressed why inclusion in the ICT sector is not just a goal but a necessity. Her message underscored the urgency of unlocking the full potential of women as innovators, entrepreneurs, and agents of change in South Africa’s digital economy.

The 10 winners were selected by a panel of judges from MTN, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and programme partners Hodisang Dipeu Holdings (HDH) and Datacomb Development Hub (DDH).  The panel   was impressed with the calibre of female entrepreneurs in this year’s programme and had a difficult task determining the top 10 finalists to be selected.

The judging criteria included innovation, business financials, current projects, the present use of technology and future business plans. 

“To ensure that the women are fully supported in their drive to achieve their business goals, the prize money is not awarded as a once-off cash payment but is invested into their businesses following a needs analysis. Business coaches and sector specialists will provide support throughout this process,” continues Mukhuvha.

Each of the ten winners will receive expert advice and support on how to invest the working capital back into their businesses to attain long-term benefits. In addition, mentorship and coaching support will be provided, ensuring the right business acumen is developed to sustain the female-led businesses.

The MTN SA Foundation has invested R4 million towards this initiative since 2022. This has played a significant part in ensuring support and sustainability of female-led businesses, subsequently driving the sustained inclusion of women as players within the digital economy.

“Our objectives over the past three years have been to bridge the gender divide within the ICT landscape, ensuring black and women-owned businesses participate fully within the digital economy”, says Mukhuvha.

Since 2024, the MTN SA Foundation has gone a step further in ensuring the WIDBC programme focuses on youth-owned businesses by partnering with the NYDA.  “The NYDA’s mandate as an institution is to implement and monitor programmes that integrate the youth into the economy and society in general.  This private-public partnership has assisted us in accessing a larger pool of black, female-owned businesses that are run and established by the youth, whilst leveraging the expertise and support of the agency,” says Mukhuvha      

In recent years, we have seen a growing number of female tech entrepreneurs entering the ICT training and education sector. Many were inspired by their own experiences and a clear recognition of the critical shortage of technology skills and training opportunities within their communities. These businesses are often established locally, reducing the need for beneficiaries to travel to urban centres and helping them save on transport costs while accessing essential learning

Mukhuvha says, “It has been rewarding to see women rise from modest beginnings, establish small businesses, and expand nationally. Others have strengthened their business infrastructures, made their enterprises sustainable, and entered new markets. Two of the WIDBC programmes’ highly successful alumni are brilliant examples of this - with one currently in preparation to train up to 4,000 students in various digital courses, while the other has created an online learning management system that now reaches over 1,000 learners.”

With about 32 million women in South Africa, constituting 51% of the population, much remains to be done, as less than 25% of the country’s tech workforce are women. Essentially, one of the most potent sources of future skills and economic growth is being underused.

The MTN Foundation’s ongoing support for initiatives such as the MTN Women in Digital Business Challenge demonstrates that helping women enter the ICT sector can unlock their potential as entrepreneurs and agents of change.

“Supporting female entrepreneurs is not only an investment in their success, but also a catalyst for broader economic growth and job creation in South Africa. At the MTN SA Foundation, we are proud to play a role in unlocking this potential,” Mukhuvha concludes.