On Friday, 18 May 2018, the MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Lebogang Maile will announce the finalists of the 2018 Township Entrepreneurship Awards (TEA) at an event to be held at the Banquet Hall Germiston Civic Centre, in the City of Ekurhuleni. Entries for the Township Entrepreneurship Awards were open on 10 November 2017 and closed on 28 February 2018. Over 300 entries were received, and following an intense judging and mystery shopper process, 45 finalists have been selected.   The Awards comprise of 16 categories in the following categories: Food & Beverages, Creative Industries, Tourism, Retail & Finance, Services, Manufacturing, Agri-Business, Transport, Automotive & Components, Construction, Building & Real Estate, Social & Community, and New/Start-up Enterprises, and across all sectors of the following categories: Entrepreneurs with a Disability, Youth Entrepreneur of the Year, Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year and Life Time Achievement Award.   The 33 finalists stand a chance of winning a share of R6 million towards cash injection to their businesses, mentorship, business incubation, and will be exposed to various tools that will help them improve their business performance.   All finalists will participate in a fourteen-part reality television show that will see them going through a series of real and practical business experiences intended to sharpen and enhance their business skills. Winners will be announced at an awards gala dinner in August 2018.   ABOUT THE TOWNSHIP ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARDS:   The Gauteng Department of Economic Development launched the Township Entrepreneurship Awards in 2015 as part of its strategic intervention aimed to revitalise the Gauteng City Region townships’ economy. The main objective of the awards is to recognise and reward entrepreneurial talent in townships whilst building and cementing confidence in township based businesses. Equally important is the impact that the awards have in changing negative perceptions about township based businesses as well as encouraging and inspiring township entrepreneurs to realise the conceivable economic gains for the communities within which they operate.   Since inception of the awards, over 257 new jobs were created, new markets accessed, and new technologies invested in that have seen township businesses excel.   The details of the event are as follows:   DATE   : Friday, 18 May 2018 TIME    : 17H30 for 18H00 VENUE : Germiston Civic Centre, City of Ekurhuleni   Members of the media are hereby invited to attend and report.  To RSVP kindly email: Mkeetse@gep.co.za   For media enquiries, contact:   Ms. Malebo Keetse Email: Mkeetse@gep.co.za Mobile: 079 079 6330   Castro Ngobese MEC’s Spokesperson Email: Castro.Ngobese@gauteng.gov.za Mobile: 060 997 7790 / 060870 1806