Johannesburg, South Africa – May 23, 2025 – The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBAs) announce the return of Proudly South African as an official partner for the 2025 awards. Building upon a successful collaboration in 2024, Proudly SA will once again champion the Top Manufacturing Category, reinforcing its commitment to promoting local manufacturing and youth entrepreneurship.
This renewed partnership underscores Proudly SA’s dedication to fostering innovation and economic growth through the support of youth-led enterprises. By spotlighting the achievements of young manufacturers, the collaboration aims to inspire a new generation to embrace local production and contribute to South Africa’s economic development.
“Our partnership with Proudly SA solidifies our mission of celebrating youth excellence in brand building whilst promoting local manufacturing.,” said Pat Mahlangu, Founder and CEO of the YOBAs. “Together, we aim to inspire more young entrepreneurs to enter the manufacturing sector, produce their brands locally, and make a tangible impact on South Africa’s economy through job creation.”
Echoing this sentiment, Happy MaKhumalo Ngidi, Chief Marketing Officer at Proudly SA, stated, "As Proudly SA, we endorse the YOBAs because they celebrate the ingenuity of young brand builders. The youth are the cornerstone of our economy and are vital to c creating platforms that drive job creation and economic growth. This aligns with the heart of our mandate. We encourage young entrepreneurs to continue manufacturing locally and call on the YOBAs to further expand their footprint in recognising youth-led brands.”
The 2025 YOBAs will take place on June 21, 2025, in Sandton, celebrating the remarkable achievements of young African brands that are redefining industries and demonstrating exceptional excellence in brand and nation building. With Proudly SA’s continued support, the awards are poised to reach even greater heights, highlighting the importance of buying local and supporting youth-led manufacturing enterprises.
For more information on the YOBAs, please visit www.top16yoba.co.za.
Media Contact:
For Proudly SA
Dambisa Maqoga
PR Manager
dambisa@proudlysa.co.za
0736668270
About the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards
Established in 2022, the YOBAs aim to recognize and celebrate the achievements of youth-owned brands across various sectors in Africa. The awards highlight the contributions of young entrepreneurs to economic growth and social development, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.
About Proudly South African
Proudly SA is the country's official buy local advocacy campaign. It aims to stimulate local production and the consumption of locally produced goods and services, thereby contributing to job creation and economic growth.
