Johannesburg, South Africa – Date— The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBAs) is proud to announce a new partnership with the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA) as a sponsor for the 2025 edition of the awards.
Now in its fourth year, the YOBAs have grown into one of South Africa’s most credible platforms for recognising youth excellence in entrepreneurship and brand-building. Founded in 2022 by brandprenuer Pat Mahlangu, the awards were created to shine a spotlight on exceptional youth-led businesses across multiple sectors — from fashion and technology to tourism, media, and retail. The YOBAs are now widely acknowledged by both industry and the youth as a barometer of innovation, excellence, and impact among young South Africans.
“It is a great honour to welcome W&RSETA to the YOBA family,” says Pat Mahlangu, Founder and CEO of the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards. “Their commitment to youth empowerment and sector transformation aligns seamlessly with our vision to elevate and celebrate South African youth who are creating brands that shift culture, grow the economy, and inspire possibility.”
W&RSETA’s sponsorship brings a strategic focus to the wholesale and retail sector — one of the most dynamic and accessible spaces for youth entrepreneurship in the country. With thousands of young people launching consumer-facing brands and retail ventures, this partnership will play a key role in not only recognising success, but also supporting long-term sustainability in the sector.
“Our mission has always been to build a credible and future-facing platform that gives youth-owned brands the visibility,validation and recognition they deserve,” says Mahlangu. “The involvement of respected institutions like W&RSETA continues to affirm the relevance and integrity of the YOBAs.”
“The Wholesale and Retail SETA is proud to support the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards, a powerful platform that not only celebrates youth entrepreneurship but also fuels inclusive economic growth. By sponsoring this initiative, we reaffirm our commitment to empowering the next generation of business leaders, especially in township and rural communities. We believe that investing in youth-owned brands is investing in the future of our economy.”
– Mr Tom Mkhwanazi, CEO, W&RSETA
The 2025 Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards will take place on Saturday, 21 June 2025, at 18:00 in Sandton, Johannesburg, where trailblazing entrepreneurs will be recognised and celebrated. Through this sponsorship, W&RSETA joins a powerful ecosystem working together to spotlight and support youth entrepreneurship in South Africa, and Africa as a whole.
About W&RSETA
The Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA) is a statutory body established to promote skills development in the wholesale and retail sectors. Through accredited training programmes, support for emerging entrepreneurs, and investment in sector-specific education, W&RSETA plays a pivotal role in building a more inclusive and competitive economy driven by skilled and enterprising individuals.
Learn more: www.wrseta.org.za
About the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBAs)
The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards is South Africa’s leading platform for recognising excellence in youth entrepreneurship. Celebrating 18 standout brands across key industries, the YOBAs elevate the voices of young people who are shaping the future of the economy and creating meaningful impact through business. The YOBAs continue to champion youth-owned brands as vital agents of change.
