MIDDELBURG – The Mpumalanga government has moved to connect green MSMEs with major industry players and support programmes to create jobs and expand opportunities in the province’s green economy.
Speaking at the 2026 Mpumalanga MSME Green Innovation Challenge on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, at Eastdene Community Hall in Middelburg, MEC for Economic Development and Tourism Jesta Sidell said the event was aimed at showing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) where real opportunities exist.
“Our message to MSMEs is simple: there are real opportunities in green energy and the renewable energy sector,” Sidell said. “We have brought together young entrepreneurs to share ideas and showcase innovation. We want them to develop programmes and projects for the green economy that can ultimately create jobs.
“By presenting what they are already doing in their businesses, we can identify opportunities for growth and expansion. That is how we ensure more job opportunities for communities across Mpumalanga.”
Sidell said special focus was being placed on towns affected by power station closures.
“What is particularly encouraging is seeing young people from communities such as Komati taking part. We all know the difficulties that the community faced when the power station closed down. So the question for us as a provincial government is: what more can we do in those areas? Especially in communities across Nkangala and Gert Sibande where renewable energy opportunities exist.”
She added that government’s role is to connect entrepreneurs with companies involved in Just Energy Transition programmes so they can access skills, funding and private-sector partnerships to establish incubators.
The Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency (MGCA) said its role was to facilitate these connections and build capacity.
MGCA Enterprise Development Officer Samukelisiwe Chirwa said the Challenge was designed to identify and showcase green MSMEs and link them to markets.
“The Green MSME Innovation Challenge was designed to identify and showcase green MSMEs in Mpumalanga and connect them with potential partners and opportunities,” Chirwa said. “The solutions reflect the diversity of the green economy, including areas such as renewable energy, circular economy and waste, sustainable agriculture and other green products and services.”
She said MGCA brings partners such as JUSTSA, Seriti Green, Sasol, ENERTRAG and GIZ into the programme so MSMEs can engage directly with organisations active in the province’s green economy.
“The immediate focus is to identify businesses, strengthen their capacity, expose them to opportunities and connect them with relevant partners, markets and support programmes,” Chirwa added.
The Challenge forms part of broader work that includes the SME Loop, which aims to take 200 MSMEs across Mpumalanga through the programme in 2026.
At the end of the pitching session, Karabo Ngobeni of MaFlo Farm from Emalahleni was crowned the overall winner, walking away with R150 000.
Ngobeni was among 10 finalists who presented solutions in renewable energy, battery storage, solar and green hydrogen.
Dzumani Mathebula of JumpStart Your Career from Mbombela took second place, winning R75 000, while Tiisetso Ngwenya of Thlompho Investment, also from Emalahleni, finished third and received R50 000.
The Challenge is a provincial initiative hosted by the Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development and Tourism in partnership with the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency.
