The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBAs) is excited to announce SABC as an official media partner for its 2025 edition. This dynamic partnership brings together two powerful platforms committed to celebrating youth excellence, entrepreneurship, and South African storytelling.

With its extensive national reach across 19 radio stations in all 11 official languages and 5 TV stations, the SABC is uniquely positioned to amplify the voices of young South Africans and give national exposure to the brands shaping the future. This media partnership will ensure that stories of ambition, innovation, and impact reach diverse communities from urban centres to rural townships.

The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards have been celebrating and recognising African youth-owned brands for the past three years. Having SABC as a media partner is a key milestone that will ensure that the message goes far and wide, allowing young people from different corners of South Africa to be inspired to do more.

“Partnering with the SABC is a significant milestone for us,” said Pat Mahlangu, Founder and CEO of the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards. “The SABC’s credibility and reach will ensure that the achievements of our youth-owned brands are celebrated across the country, and that aspiring entrepreneurs are inspired by stories they can relate to.”

The partnership will include exclusive interviews with finalists and winners, brand features, and pre-event promotional content across SABC platforms. Together, the YOBAs and SABC aim to drive a national conversation about the role of youth entrepreneurship and brand building in South Africa’s economic growth.

“The SABC is excited to team up with organisations who share our passion of telling meaningful stories and empowering the youth. Together we can reach more communities and make a meaningful impact” said Ongeziwe “Oz” Lupuwana, Head: Integrated Marketing, SABC

The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards will take place on 21 June 2025, recognising the top youth-owned brands across 18 categories including Food & Beverage, Fashion, Technology, Tourism, Media, and Social Impact.

For more information, visit www.top16yoba.co.za  and follow the conversation on social media using #Top16YOBAs.

About SABC

Established in August 1936, The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SOC) Limited (“The SABC”) is a public broadcaster (Schedule 2: “Major Public Entity” in terms of the Public Finance Management Act No.1 of 1999, “PMFA”), with a mandate to inform, educate and entertain the public of South Africa. Founded on the statute of The Broadcasting Act (The Act) the SABC’s obligations are captured in the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (“ICASA”) Regulations and license conditions, providing five televisions channels and 19 Radio stations.

About the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBAs)

Founded in 2022, the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBAs) recognises and celebrates outstanding brands built and led by South African youth. Spearheaded by brand entrepreneur Pat Mahlangu, the YOBAs aim to spotlight excellence across multiple industries while nurturing a culture of innovation, resilience, and economic empowerment among young entrepreneurs.

ENDS

Media Enquiries: Mmoni Ngubane (Head: Communications)

Ngubanemv@sabc.co.za | T. 011 714 3057 | C. 073 688 1590