One hundred Soweto entrepreneurs will gain direct access to customers, visibility and business networks through a two-day showcase designed to strengthen Soweto’s creative economy and jobs.
The first Soweto Small Business Showcase will take place at Maponya Mall on 26 and 27 September 2026, bringing together 100 local businesses, makers and creative entrepreneurs.
Presented by Soweto Tourism with support from FNB and KAMERS/Makers, the event builds on three years of Soweto Tourism business showcases while expanding the platform available to local entrepreneurs.
Businesses participating in the showcase will represent sectors including fashion, food, homeware, craft, design and other locally produced goods and services.
Beyond giving visitors an opportunity to buy locally, the event is designed to give entrepreneurs direct access to customers, greater brand visibility and opportunities to build relationships with other businesses and potential partners.
Soweto Tourism Chairperson Thato Mothopeng said bringing entrepreneurs together creates an opportunity to highlight the scale of creativity already operating within the township economy.
“Visitors are consistently impressed by South African creativity, and Soweto has it in abundance. Bringing these businesses together in one place gives entrepreneurs the visibility they need to grow, and that contributes to the greater good of the whole area,” Mothopeng said.
Market access remains one of the practical challenges facing many small businesses, particularly entrepreneurs attempting to move from selling within their immediate networks to reaching larger groups of paying customers.
The showcase creates a temporary marketplace where businesses can test products, build awareness, engage directly with customers and potentially establish relationships that continue beyond the two-day event.
FNB Business Regional Head for Gold Business Kabelo Motheane said small businesses play an important role in employment and community development.
“At FNB Business we are committed to giving entrepreneurs the networks, insights and market access they need to build sustainable businesses,” Motheane said.
He said collaboration between the private sector, tourism stakeholders and entrepreneurship platforms could contribute to longer-term growth within township economies.
KAMERS/Makers is providing event and marketing experience developed through its work with South African creative businesses.
Its CEO, Ben-Carl Havemann, said the creative economy represents an important source of employment and entrepreneurial opportunity.
“The creative economy is one of South Africa’s most valuable job creators. Our mission is to draw more attention to it and to the opportunities it holds for entrepreneurs,” Havemann said.
KAMERS/Makers describes the Soweto event as a platform for businesses and products made in Soweto, with a focus on creating new market access and highlighting local entrepreneurial talent.
For the participating businesses, the value of the showcase is not limited to sales made during the weekend.
Exposure to new customers can help businesses grow their customer databases, increase repeat sales, build digital audiences and strengthen the visibility required to compete for larger commercial opportunities.
Bringing 100 businesses together also provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to discover suppliers, collaborators and other businesses operating within the same local economy.
The event forms part of a broader effort to position entrepreneurship, creativity and locally produced goods as important contributors to Soweto’s visitor economy.
Visitors will be able to discover the people behind the brands while spending directly with locally owned businesses.
Online tickets are listed at R50, with gate tickets at R65. Children under 18 enter free according to the official ticket listing.
The longer-term opportunity lies in converting the visibility generated over two days into sustainable customer relationships, stronger businesses and greater economic participation for entrepreneurs operating across Soweto.
