MTN SA Foundation has launched the fifth edition of its Women in Digital Business Challenge, selecting 10 black women-owned ICT and digital businesses for support. Each finalist will receive an investment package worth R100,000 in grant funding and business-development assistance, for a total commitment of R1 million.
The programme launched in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, on 14 September 2026. Participants begin with a business needs analysis, followed by skills development, mentorship and market-access opportunities designed to strengthen operations and support job creation.
The challenge is delivered in partnership with the EBL Institute of Business and Technology, Datacomb Development Hub and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)
Since its launch in 2022, the initiative has supported 40 women-owned businesses across South Africa. Those companies report creating or sustaining 173 jobs (98 held by women) and generating more than R14.7 million in revenue. Participants have also noted improvements in customer acquisition, operational efficiency, market access and partnerships.
One example cited is Charged Up Group, founded by Ntsako Mahlaule and supported in the 2024 edition. The company has since secured bulk orders and contracts, expanded its customer base, hired additional staff and moved to larger premises, while also forming a partnership with Forbes Africa.
Arthur Mukhuvha, general manager of the MTN Foundation at MTN South Africa, said the programme aims to help women-owned ICT businesses access the support, networks and opportunities needed for sustainable growth. “Entrepreneurship remains one of the most powerful drivers of innovation, job creation and economic inclusion,” he noted.
The challenge forms part of MTN’s broader efforts to increase women’s participation in South Africa’s digital economy, where women remain underrepresented in tech roles. Previous editions have focused on working capital, mentorship and practical business support for participants already engaged in ICT or digital ventures.
