Simphiwe flexes muscles for final stretch
Empangeni gym owner battles it out in national entrepreneurship competition.
EMPANGENI businesswoman Simphiwe Mazibuko is in the running of winning South African Breweries’ (SAB) 18-month-long KickStart entrepreneurship competition.
The winners will be announced next week.
Mazibuko, the co-founder of Emjimini Fitness & Wellness Centre in Empangeni, is one of 17 budding entrepreneurs selected by an independent panel of adjudicators following an intensive two-week business training course facilitated by the University’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).
According to SAB, each finalist received business grants of between R100 000 and R200 000, as well as business development support throughout the year.
‘The final top three winners of the national finals will be awarded additional grant funding for their businesses during Global Entrepreneurship Week (next week),’ SAB said.
The announcement will be made on Tuesday at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Johannesburg.
‘It is an absolute honour to be one of the finalists in this competition,’ said Mazibuko.
‘Knowing all the risks involved in starting up a business reminds me of how valuable SAB’s support and mentorship is.’
Asked how her gym will help the local economy, Simphiwe said health is vital in the business sphere.
‘Although we do not have a direct impact on the local economy, we do play a fundamental role in any productive environment.
‘Human beings are the lifeblood of all organisations and to achieve success, employees must perform at their peak.
‘We are here to assist these individuals in ensuring they attain a balanced lifestyle,’ Mazibuko said.
KickStart is aimed at instilling a culture of entrepreneurship among black youth between the ages of 18 and 35.
To date, it has empowered more than 22 000 young entrepreneurs and enabled more than 3 200 small businesses by providing them with the necessary skills and training to develop their brand.
