EMALAHLENI — Women entrepreneurs, small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and youth-owned businesses are invited to showcase their products and services at the Sheroes Women’s Expo 2026, scheduled for 24 October.
The event will begin at 09:00 at Gateway Church International (GWCI), on the corner of Arras and Elizabeth streets in eMalahleni, under the theme “WOW – The Next Level and Elevation”.
Organisers expect more than 1,000 women from the business, leadership and entrepreneurship sectors to attend.
Exhibition spaces are limited, with awards planned for Best Stall, WOW Effect and Best Dressed Staff. Businesses interested in exhibiting can contact info@gwci.org.za or Ayanda on 013 656 2211.
The Sheroes Women’s Forum says it has spent more than a decade bringing together women and young people through its annual conference and expo, promoting entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
Forum member Nomagugu Mvelase told the Highveld Chronicle that high unemployment among women and young people was among the reasons behind the initiative.
She said the forum encouraged women and young people to establish their own businesses rather than rely solely on formal employment opportunities.
Mvelase said financial independence could empower women to make better decisions about their lives, including leaving abusive relationships.
“When women work and are able to create their own income, they are able to make better choices,” she said.
She added that the forum had organised health outreach programmes, including free health screenings and mobile clinics, while helping women-owned businesses access new markets.
Mvelase also highlighted outreach initiatives in Jellico Street, where the forum assisted women facing difficult circumstances with employment opportunities and documentation.
She said her own business, which she started with support from the forum, now employs 15 people.
The advertised speaker line-up includes Mpumalanga MEC Leah Moriti Mabuza, Wilhemina Ngcobo of Rio Tinto RBM, PRASA Chief Executive Nwabisa Gqamane-Ntiyane and SUM Sales Director Tshepiso Phosa.
The programme will feature keynote sessions, masterclasses and an exhibition where businesses can promote their brands, sell products and network with potential customers, investors and government agencies, including the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).
Mvelase said the initiative aimed to support women affected by abuse, aspiring entrepreneurs, unemployed graduates, young people and people living with disabilities.
She called for improved access to funding and markets, urging government and the private sector to create more opportunities for entrepreneurs to reach customers.
“Government is an enabler. We need access to finance and access to market. From private sector, we are saying give us access to market,” Mvelase said.
The expo aims to strengthen women-owned and youth-owned businesses by providing a platform to showcase their products, build networks and connect with potential customers and business partners.
