BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MBABANE – Jonokuhle Upholstery has presented an E15 000 Sofa L Couch to Bakers Awards winner Hloniphile Lukhele, following her victory in the Best Cake Appearance Award at the Bakers Awards 2026, held in partnership with Cake Baking Eswatini.
The prize was officially handed over on Monday, 18 May 2026, after the Bakers Awards ceremony took place on 28 March 2026 at The Gallery Hotel, where Lukhele was recognised for her outstanding cake design under the Best Cake Appearance category.
The sponsorship marked one of the most notable prizes within Eswatini’s baking industry, highlighting growing support for creativity, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship in the baking sector.
Speaking during the presentation, Lukhele said the award has encouraged her to take baking more seriously as a business and career path. “This award motivates me to continue improving my baking skills and treat baking as a serious business opportunity,” she said.
Lukhele attended the presentation with her mother, who expressed pride in her daughter’s achievement and encouraged aspiring bakers to take up baking lessons, saying training opportunities play an important role in personal growth and entrepreneurship development.
Director of Jonokuhle Upholstery Sibonokuhle Simelane said the company is honoured to support initiatives that empower bakers and young entrepreneurs, adding that the baking industry continues to grow and contribute to economic opportunities.
Cake Baking Eswatini leader Sibusiso Mashwama expressed appreciation for the sponsorship and support from Jonokuhle Upholstery, saying the partnership strengthens the organisation’s vision of empowering bakers across Eswatini.
He further stated that the Bakers Awards 2026 distributed prizes worth a total of E32 000, making it one of the biggest celebrations of baking talent in the country this year. The awards featured multiple categories, including Best Cake Appearance, Best Cake Taste, Best Cake That Tells a Story, Save E20 Per Order Award, Best Social Media Presence, and several others.
The initiative is expected to have a wider social impact by encouraging more young people to view baking as a viable source of income and entrepreneurship. It also contributes to skills development within communities, while promoting creativity and self-reliance among aspiring bakers, particularly youth and women who are increasingly using baking as a pathway to financial independence.
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