Hemis Lacala is onto something good. Not only is he pursuing a great business idea, but he is also educating the nation at a fraction of the usual cost. This he does through his online book store, eAfford, which helps university students save money by renting out academic textbooks at low prices. As a Bachelor… [Continue Reading]
Archive | Success
Finance creates jobs in remote village
In a province where low economic growth and high unemployment rates are the norm, a business owner is trying to turn joblessness around for his village with the help of a R3 million loan from the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (Mega). Mega provides funding ranging from R10 000 to R3 million to business owners who… [Continue Reading]
Student cashes in on sale of business
An engineering student saw a gap in the market, grabbed the attention of 13 000 students two weeks after launching his business, and then made a huge success of it. As a result, he is now selling his technology business to a big media firm listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). This is the… [Continue Reading]
Owner keeps digging his way to the top
Xolani Mtshizana had to dig himself out of the clutches of gangsterism and other challenges as a youngster, but it is this rocky road that led him to establish his aptly named design business, Keep Digging Africa, to motivate aspiring entrepreneurs. Growing up in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape was not easy for the 35-year-old… [Continue Reading]
Break for brothers in brewing business
Since opening their first coffee bar in August 2006, Andrew and Chris Brown have not looked back and now own a chain of establishments throughout Gauteng. The brothers also ended off 2013 on a high note by winning the Sanlam/Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year award. Shortlisted after a tough vetting process, telephonic interviews and… [Continue Reading]
Reaching new heights after going on trade mission
Teboho Price Monahadi clinched a promising deal with a big Nigerian company and hails the recent outward selling trade mission to Nigeria as “historic”. The aim of the mission, which was the first to that country, was to promote South African exports into Nigerian markets, and Nigerian exports into South African markets. “South Africa is… [Continue Reading]
E-shop goes live after uphill journey
Makoya Brands is a name many will soon come to know, if owner Wendy Vesela-Ntimbani’s plans for 2014 come together. This is very likely, since she is a woman who managed to sway overseas businesses to supply her business with premium brands which, at that stage, was only an idea. Six months later, in November… [Continue Reading]
Two new trucks thanks to Sefa loan
Goodwill Nkomo was able to expand his business by acquiring two additional trucks after receiving funding worth R5 million from the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa). A merger of the South African Micro Apex Fund, Khula Enterprise Finance Limited and the Industrial Development Corporation’s (IDC) small business division, sefa is charged with overseeing the establishment,… [Continue Reading]
Going solo pays off for wine-makers
Since attending trade export missions, a local wine farmer is now exporting to five countries in Europe and five in Asia. Vernon Henn, managing director of Thandi Wines in the Western Cape, says the business was started in 1999 and was largely supported by Vinfruco, a large winery business. “The plan was for Thandi Wines… [Continue Reading]
Inventors make first African smartphone
Telecommunications equipment manufacturer Seemahale Telecoms is making massive strides in bridging the digital divide in Africa, with its latest product – the continent’s first smartphone – set to provide the local market with an affordable, but high quality mobile device. The first smartphone manufactured in Africa, has the potential to create thousands of jobs in… [Continue Reading]