The metro’s Festival of Ideas programme, which boasted R2-million worth of prizes, has paid off for 15 local entrepreneurs.
They worked with the Gauteng Economic Propeller (GEP) to put together the total prize money.
The metro contributed R1.5-m, while the GEP contributed R500 000 to the pot.
The metro has also partnered with other private sector companies and government institutions to provide full assistance to the emerging entrepreneurs.
The first batch of winning entrepreneurs received their prizes last Wednesday at ceremonies held in Germiston and Kempton Park.
The prizes, comprising business office equipment, were handed over by MMC for Finance and Economic Development Clr Nkosindiphile Xhakaza.
The Festival of Ideas is a programme where emerging entrepreneurs pitch their innovative ideas to a panel of judges in the following sectors, agriculture, logistics, business services, manufacturing and ICT.
The session to pitch to the panel was held in June.
There were 15 winners comprising three winners per sector.
The first batch of winners who received their prizes are in logistics and business services.
The remainder of the winners will be awarded their prizes in the coming weeks.
Speaking during the ceremony to hand over prizes, Xhakaza said, “We must support the SMMEs to ensure they have a conducive environment for their businesses to prosper and equipment, as well as necessary capital.
“We have also noted that there were people who wanted to derail this ground-breaking programme by falsifying their entries to benefit themselves even though they did not qualify.
“We disqualified them and noted that they resorted to speaking against the programme on social media.”
The first prize winner, Mduduzi Makhoba, from Hamashe Trading in the logistics sector, took home R100 000 worth of equipment.
The second prize winner was Thandi Nkosi from Teenten Enter Price.
She also competed in the logistics sector.
Nkosi won R60 000 worth of equipment.
While Labani Mgimeti from Hiteka Kitchen scooped the third prize and R40 000 worth of equipment.
Mgimeti, a 36-year-old mother of three, said she is promoting healthy eating among school learners through her business.
“Our children are prone to eating unhealthy food such as fat cakes and other junk food on a daily basis.
“We must know that they were not born craving this stuff, but they were conditioned over time.
“This needs to change.
“The future is very healthy.
“There is no better time than now for us to start businesses that provide healthy food and living,” she said.
