Lesego Seloane Wins Top Honours at Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHER Cape Town 2026
Lesego Seloane Wins Top Honours at Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHER Cape Town 2026. Women entrepreneurs, business leaders and professionals gathered in Cape Town for the 2026 Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHER event, where business networking, leadership discussions and entrepreneurial innovation took centre stage.
Held at the Radisson Collection Hotel, Waterfront Cape Town, the event marked the first regional stop in the 2026 EmpowHER series. The programme featured keynote presentations by Leigh-Anne De Witt of Standard Bank and Alderman Theresa Uys, Mayoral Committee Member for the City of Cape Town, alongside fireside discussions with world champion public speaker Verity Price and entrepreneur Tarynne Keown Rajh.
One of the day’s highlights was the Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHER Pitching Den, where 10 women entrepreneurs presented their businesses before a judging panel comprising representatives from Standard Bank, Topco Media, Takealot and Clicks Group.
Following the competition, Lesego Seloane, co-founder of Ronewa Creations, was named the 2026 Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHER Cape Town Pitching Den winner. Ronewa Creations is a Black women-owned integrated facilities management company focused on delivering environmental solutions while promoting skills development and community empowerment.
Aditi Radhakrishna of Ruby Rose Feminine Hygiene SA (Pty) Ltd was announced as the first runner-up, while Hannah Thompson of Hannah Claire Creations secured second runner-up.
Leigh-Anne De Witt, Provincial Head for Coverage Business Banking in the Western Cape at Standard Bank South Africa, said the event demonstrated the innovation, ambition and resilience of women entrepreneurs. She noted that sustainable business growth is supported not only by funding, but also through access to mentorship, networks and business opportunities.
As the regional winner, Seloane received a R50,000 cash prize and will represent Cape Town at the National Standard Bank Top Women Conference, scheduled to take place on 8 and 9 September 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre.
She will also compete against other regional winners at the 23rd annual Standard Bank Top Women Awards on 3 December 2026, where the EmpowHER Entrepreneur of the Year will receive an additional R100,000 cash prize.
The 2026 EmpowHER series will continue in KwaZulu-Natal on 28 July, where another group of women entrepreneurs will compete for a place in the national finals.
