FROM schoolboy entrepreneur selling boiled eggs and sweet potatoes, a Pongola man has won a major a major business competition.
Phumulani Ngwenya took away the Entrepreneur of the Year title and R100 000 plus R10 000 for charity in the 2018 Business Achievers Awards at a gala ceremony hosted by the Ithala Development Finance Corporation in Durban last week.
The entrepreneurial spirit and an eye for business of Ngwenya, owner of Siyanda Stationery trading as Kwalala Lodge, saw him filling the needs of his community, opening a crèche and later a stationery shop.
He then branched into the tourism industry with a B&B at Kwalala Lodge, Magugu Lodge and Crocodile Creek Lodge, all which are based in Pongola.
He is also involved in property development and owns six commercial properties which he is currently leasing out.
Category winners
The five category winners each received R30 000 plus R5 000 for charity.
The Logistical Services Business of the Year was Thamsanqa Ngcobo of Umlalazi Trading, a business started by taxi owners who got together to form a bus transport co-operative.
They started out with a fleet of eight buses which has expanded to 12 buses.
The Agriculture Business of the Year was Bhekuyise Magwaza of Ngqobeni Farm for his hands-on involvement in his business for over 16 years.
He has also started a co-op that specialises in harvesting and haulage of sugarcane in the KwaDukuza area.
He currently employs 15 permanent staff with 60 seasonal workers.
He is also extremely passionate about assisting other local farmers and offers free mentorship support to KwaDukuza farmers who are benefiting from his years of experience in the sugarcane business.
Tourism winner
The Tourism and Hospitality Business of the Year was won by Mlungisi Nzuza from Nongoma.
He owns three lodges, namely Nongoma Inn, Nongoma Lodge and Mbazwana Inn.
He employs 47 permanent employees and is extremely passionate about the hospitality industry and would like to own his very own hotel to rival the Southern Suns of this world.
Other winners
Other award winners were Muziwethu Shinga of Majestic King Fast Foods for Franchise Business of the Year, and Zaba Ngubane of Logoman Designs, who won the Micro Business of the Year.
This year’s special award for the Most Promising Young Entrepreneur of the Year went to Sabelo Buthelezi, owner of Limco Logistic.
He started his business in 2012 with two trucks and within six months expanded his fleet to five trucks.
He has since increased his number of employees from five to 13 and his business is growing.
The awards
The awards recognise business achievements and excellence, their contribution to job creation and the growth of the province’s economy.
Winners in each category are selected on the basis of their business sustainability, growth, job creation, community development, entrepreneurial flair and innovation.
‘We initiated the Ithala Business Achiever Awards project to recognise and reward existing Ithala clients in their role of developing an entrepreneurial province.
‘In selecting the finalists for the awards, we nominated key clients who epitomise a spirit of entrepreneurship, have a good track record of financial performance, have made an impact in their community and demonstrated innovation and personal integrity,’ said Ithala acting Group Chief Executive, Thembe Mathe.
Over the past three years, Ithala has loaned R878.6-million to nearly 700 businesses, resulting in over 8 000 jobs being created.
Of these, 28% are women-owned businesses and young people comprise nearly 40% of those on Ithala’s loan book, which further re-affirms their commitment towards SMME’s and cooperative development, especially among youth and women.
The judging process was stringent with external independent adjudicators from the Durban Chamber of Commerce and the Ethekwini Municipality Business Support Unit ensuring impartiality.
Shortlisted clients were provided with questions a week before the interview so that they could be well prepared for the final judging.
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