Highway enviropreneurs aim for greener SA
Of 800 applicants across SA, only two people were chosen from KZN to take part in the Groundswell Accelerator programme.
TWO Highway business owners are the only environmental entrepreneurs from the province chosen to participate in the Groundswell Accelerator, Fetola’s latest business development programme.
Russell Mann of Plumbmann and Sons in Westville and Nonhlanhla Joye of Umgibe Farming Organics and Training Institute in Hillcrest join a cohort of 25 South African enviropreneurs who will focus on business sustainability and upscaling over the next 18 months.
Russell said his business has expanded their traditional plumbing business to include water harvesting.
Umgibe Farming Organics is an eco-friendly growing system that enables small farmers to grow organic vegetables.
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Nonhlanha’s dream is to play a part in ensuring that food security is reached in South Africa and beyond.
Groundswell is an interactive 18-month programme, supported by seed funding from JP Morgan. It focuses on small entrepreneurs working in the green economy, the programme builds entrepreneurial skills and cultivates sound business practices.
Since inception in 2007, participants in Fetola programmes typically grow by 50 per cent per year, and have a long-term survival rate of close to 90 per cent.
CEO, Catherine Wijnberg, described the cohort as a group of sophisticated and savvy scientists, many of whom hold advanced degrees.
“It’s exciting to engage with entrepreneurs of this calibre. They are promoting renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, offering environmental consulting, providing water resource services as well as patenting new inventions,” she said.
Entrepreneurs wishing to apply for similar business development support, visit Fetola’s website at www.fetola.co.za/projects.
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