In today's markets slot, we look at Standard Bank's National Kasi SME Pitch Challenge & Summit 2026 that took place earlier today in Gqeberha, on South Africa's (SA) Eastern Cape Province. The event shines a spotlight is on SA's most promising majority black-owned businesses that have emerged from a highly competitive provincial selection process across all nine provinces.

Now in its second national edition, the Standard Bank National Kasi SME Pitch Challenge is bigger and bolder than ever, with over $60 000 in prize money up for grabs and a strong focus on empowering entrepreneurs through funding, mentorship, skills development, and market access.

For more on this, Thami Ngubeni spoke to Naledzani Mosomane, Head of Enterprise and Supplier Development at Business and Commercial Banking, Standard Bank SA.