The Entrepreneur 2019 exhibition was awash with delicious food and innovative products to compliment the glow of excitement as over 100 people gathered at the SMD Ballito showroom to witness this year’s winner.
Ilembe Chamber of Commerce CEO Cobus Oelofse hosted the awards ceremony surrounded by partners from Airports Company South Africa, Sembcorp Siza Water, UKZN Graduate School of Business, ENGIE Peakers Operations and of course The North Coast Courier.
Hopeful and understandably nervous participants were commended by each organization including councillor Sandeep Oudhram for their hard work and determination in their respective fields of business and lauded as groundbreaking business partners ready to thrive on the Dolphin Coast among their peers.
Each entrepreneur was given a few minutes to impart some words regarding their experience as an SME (small to medium enterprise) with the project and emotions were in check as mentors, families and friends were thanked for their continued support alongside laughter as Themba Zuma, founder and creative director of The Brand Icon, told the audience, “I know my last name is Zuma – don’t get scared”.
A well deserved first place went to Mbali Khumalo from Stanger, the owner of Taste KZN for her deliberation and excellence in running her African cuisine, pop-up cafe and catering business.
The corporate and private function culinary artist gave a heart-warming speech on behalf of all the participants for the opportunities given to them by all sponsors and accepted a gorgeous mounted propeller as her trophy, recalling the fun times and adventures throughout the duration of the competition.
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Mbali will take home a whopping R45 000 worth of business advertising from the Courier which will brandish the ‘Taste’ label throughout the area on printed and digital platforms.
Second place was awarded to Venusha Moodley-Nirmal from Ballito for her brilliant pet food manufacturing business, 3LittleAngels Pet Nutrition.
The qualified microbiologist was humorously challenged by Oudheram to work on a method to analyze pet droppings from her products which was met with a warm chuckle from the audience.
In an unusual turn of events, third place was split between Jon Roberts and Guy Bower, owners of eco-friendly and fashionable accessories brand Husk Eco Luxe based in Ballito, and Zandile Ndlovu from Mandeni who formed Masisweni Co-op, a cultivation effort on tribal land that supplies vegetables to the local community.
All four exceptional initiatives will receive an allocated prize of advertising and media coverage from the Courier to further their business anchorage within the area, as well as a proportional share in R75 000 of business development funding in accordance with approved business plans.
Bruce Stephenson, the Courier’s chairman, congratulated all the participants of the 2019 Entrepreneur Awards.
“This showcases that the potential for SMEs to inject themselves into the greater broader sphere is a reality that anyone can achieve,” said Stephenson.
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