The metro contributed R1.5-m, while the GEP contributed R500 000 to the pot.<\/p>\n
The metro has also partnered with other private sector companies and government institutions to provide full assistance to the emerging entrepreneurs.<\/p>
The first batch of winning entrepreneurs received their prizes last Wednesday at ceremonies held in Germiston and Kempton Park.<\/p>\n
The prizes, comprising business office equipment, were handed over by MMC for Finance and Economic Development Clr Nkosindiphile Xhakaza.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The session to pitch to the panel was held in June.<\/p>\n
There were 15 winners comprising three winners per sector.<\/p>\n
The first batch of winners who received their prizes are in logistics and business services.<\/p>\n
The remainder of the winners will be awarded their prizes in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Youngsters look into bins for job opportunities<\/a><\/p>\n Sizwe takes home R100\u00a0000 in fine arts competition<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Speaking during the ceremony to hand over prizes, Xhakaza said, \u201cWe must support the SMMEs to ensure they have a conducive environment for their businesses to prosper and equipment, as well as necessary capital.<\/p>\n \u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe disqualified them and noted that they resorted to speaking against the programme on social media.\u201d<\/p>\n The first prize winner, Mduduzi Makhoba, from Hamashe Trading in the logistics sector, took home R100 000 worth of equipment.<\/p>\n The second prize winner was Thandi Nkosi from Teenten Enter Price.<\/p>\n She also competed in the logistics sector.<\/p>\n Nkosi won R60 000 worth of equipment.<\/p>\n While Labani Mgimeti from Hiteka Kitchen scooped the third prize and R40 000 worth of equipment.<\/p>\n Mgimeti, a 36-year-old mother of three, said she is promoting healthy eating among school learners through her business.<\/p>\n \u201cOur children are prone to eating unhealthy food such as fat cakes and other junk food on a daily basis.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must know that they were not born craving this stuff, but they were conditioned over time.<\/p>\n \u201cThis needs to change.<\/p>\n “The future is very healthy.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no better time than now for us to start businesses that provide healthy food and living,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Also follow us on:<\/p>\n
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