Here they are, your crème de la crème businesses on the South Coast, according to YOU – the readers of the South Coast Herald.
The Best of South Coast Readers’ Choice Awards winners have been named for 2026 and there’s much cause for fanfare and cause for celebration. And celebrate we have!
The Herald handed over certificates to the worthy winners at an innovative pop-up red carpet gala meet and greet at the paper’s Port Shepstone office last week. Held over two days, the winners-only handover was one of the novel new touches to the 15-year-old competition, which continues to gain momentum year on year.
The Herald management and staff congratulate all winners and runners-up on their success in this year’s competition.
Walking the red carpet was but one of this year’s innovations. Also for the first time, businesses could be nominated by the public, and where three or more businesses were nominated in a category, that category opened for contention. The success of this approach saw almost 50 more categories added, as voters sought to reward almost every conceivable type of business on the coast.
And then, the votes came pouring in.
More than 350,000 votes were cast across both print and online platforms in the final voting phase. This kept the official competition auditors Chantel Elliot & Co busy, as they ensured an even playing field on behalf of all competing businesses. “It’s a testament to the competition’s credentials how eagerly businesses await the outcome each year,” said Herald business manager Michelle Izatt. “It seems to get harder every year to ensure the results stay under wraps until our official announcement. Our readers’ overwhelming response shows that local is indeed lekker.”
It’s not only our local businesses that have had the opportunity to shine but 8 readers who voted were also left smiling, as they won the coveted cash and sponsored prizes up for grabs. The Herald thanks our readers, prize sponsors, Chantel Elliott and her amazing team for their important contribution, and the sublime Ntombi and her team at Feje Restaurant and Events for their impressive set-up at the pop-up red carpet photo booth we hosted over two days last week to present our winners with their certificates.
“My Herald staff have been incredible in presenting this enhanced competition; staging the event for the handover and producing this bumper 48 page feature supplement to announce our successful businesses – none of it could happen without their sterling efforts.
The 2026 instalment of Best of south Coast has been a rip-roaring success. Now all that remains is for you to click through the categories to see who clinched the top awards!”
View the Winners Directory Listings by clicking on the button below. You can also view the Winners Publication by clicking on the 2nd Button (Note this file is 38mb)
