Specialised Seating for Disabled Children also won the People’s Choice Award voted by guests at the awards.

Social Innovation Award winners

The Social Innovation Awards are aimed at innovators, entrepreneurs and institutions with prototypes or early-stage businesses that solve a social problem.

Regenize, which won first place, was developed by Chad Robertson and business partner Nkazimlo Miti. It aims to be a free and inclusive recycling solution that rewards people for sustainable behaviours by exchanging their recycling for a virtual currency called Remali, the value of which is determined by the weight of recyclables.

Remali can be used to purchase a selection of vouchers ranging from airtime to data and groceries. To drive inclusivity, Regenize partners with waste pickers during the collection process, providing them with uniforms, transport and access to sorted recyclables.

PlastiBrick, which was in second place, received R900 000 to further an innovation by Kekeletso Tsiloane. The innovation uses recycled plastic to manufacture stock and maxi bricks that are strong, durable, fire retardant and environmentally friendly.

In third place is Put It Out, a mini fire extinguisher designed by Toli Altounis. It aims to be a cost-effective, non-toxic and easy to use fire extinguisher devised to curb shack fires. Put It Out says that the R750 000 that it received will help put the extinguisher into the hands of those who are at risk.

Disability Empowerment Award winners

The Disability Empowerment Awards are aimed at promoting social innovations that improve the quality of life for people with disabilities through assistive devices, training or employment. In the joint-first place were Specialised Seating for Disabled Children and the OptiShunt.

Mpho Mohlolo developed Specialised Seating for Disabled Children. These chairs and tray tables are custom-built for children with physical disabilities and aim to be cost-effective, strong and environmentally friendly.

The OptiShunt, designed by Dr Daemon McClunan, is an implantable device that prevents blindness in glaucoma patients by draining excess fluid out of the eye while equalising pressure between the eye and the optic nerve. Glaucoma, which is an eye disease, is most severe among people in rural areas.

"Winning the SAB Foundation Disability Empowerment Award provides us with the support we need to set the OptiShunt on a clear course to success, radically disrupt the current treatment of glaucoma and make a big impact in the fight against global blindness," says Dr McClunan.

ShowerBath, which placed third, won R750 000. Showerbath says that the prize money will help Xelda Rohrbeck roll out the use of a device. The product aims to help care-givers bath disabled individuals.

A combination of a shower and bathtub, the innovation intends to ease the stress of a caregiver as it eliminates electro-mechanical hoists and reduces the physical strain of having caregivers manually lift the individual.

Since 2010, the SAB Foundation has identified, supported and helped to scale social innovations that demonstrate a sustainable business model, while solving a critical social problem.

"To date, we have committed over R77 million towards promoting social innovation and [we have] supported 162 businesses that solve social issues and provide solutions to people with disabilities," says SAB Foundation Director, Bridgit Evans. "Over and above this, we are proud that these businesses have also created 614 jobs."

For more information, visit www.sabfoundation.co.za. You can also follow the SAB Foundation on Facebook or on Twitter.