SAB crowns its KickStart Boost 2016 entrepreneur winners

SAB (South African Breweries) has crowned the three winners of its KickStart Boost 2016 youth entrepreneurial programme.

Inga Vanqa (33) (pictured top right) was awarded top honours for his business, Inga Vanqa Quantity Surveying and Project Management, and was awarded a R500 000 grant for further investment. The company offers green building consulting and construction project management, being based in Queenstown, Eastern Cape.

Second place went to Pravashen Naidoo (33) who was awarded R400 000 for further investment. His company, e-Waste Africa, is based in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal and specialises in the disposal of lamps and bulbs in an eco-friendly way. During the programme, e-Waste Africa received a loan of R1-million from SAB KickStart Boost for expansion into Gauteng and equipment.

The final spot went to the owner of Eyam Projects, Thuli Radebe (29) who received R300 000 investment for the business. Eyam Projects focuses on exhibition stands and shop fittings, and is based in Roodepoort, Gauteng.

Apart from loans to further business expansion, each winner received an additional six months of business and training support from SAB.

At the beginning of 2016, the eight finalists were chosen to take part in the programme. Over the next few months, these individuals would receive training, mentorship, and low-interest seed capital loans in order to boost their businesses.

The other five contestants were:

• Silindile Dube (31) of Duo Glass
• Brian Ramufhufhi (35) of Mukhwama Manufacturing
• Philip Ndamase (30) of Ndamase Investments
• Donald Valoyi (30) of Zulzi
• Mamorajane Lephoto (31) of LephothoMakwelele Farmeries

The SAB KickStart programme initially launched in May 1995, with the aim of supporting strong and sustainable youth-owned businesses.