THE votes are in, the winners are out, and yoh, the results speak volumes! The Best of Durban Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 once again showed off the vibe, variety, and sheer local brilliance that make eThekwini shine.

After months of piping-hot competition and voting that came in faster than a bunny chow at lunch, over 358 000 votes were dished out across nine sizzling categories. Durbanites pulled in strong, helping crown 224 top-tier businesses and service providers as the crème de la crème of the 031.

From cafés that know your order before you say “Usual, please”, to mechanics who don’t take you for a ride, doctors with bedside brilliance, and teachers raising the bar, Durban, you’ve got taste.

Food & Drink came in flaming hot with 66 777 votes, no surprise there, followed by Professional Services, Medical, Education, and Shopping. Altogether, a whopping 5087 nominees made the cut across more than 224 sub-categories. Clearly, Durbanites know how to back their favourites.

But this campaign wasn’t just about likes and logos, it was about heart. With over 21 000 reader competition entries, it’s clear locals care about uplifting the legends who keep our city ticking.

These are the real MVPs — the hairstylist who’s never had a bad hair day, the teacher always chalking up wins, or the cashier who greets you like family. Every winner and finalist is a standing ovation for hard work, heart, and hustle.

The full results are live across our Caxton Durban titles — Northglen News, Berea Mail, Highway Mail, Queensburgh News — and all over our socials.

So big up to everyone who voted, supported, or made the list. Durban’s got talent, heart and hustle. We can’t wait to see these champs shine even brighter next year.

From all at Caxton Local Media Durban we say, thank you, dankie, ngiyabonga.