Barberton, Mpumalanga – Ehlanzeni TVET College’s Barberton Campus successfully hosted a Market Day initiative aimed at promoting student entrepreneurship and encouraging young people to develop innovative business solutions that address community needs while creating opportunities for income generation and sustainable growth.
Organised by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator (CFERI), the event provided a platform for 15 participants to showcase their products, present their business ideas and share their visions for growing their enterprises. Participants also had the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, demonstrating their creativity, entrepreneurial potential and commitment to building viable businesses.
The Market Day aimed to expose students to the opportunities offered by entrepreneurship and inspire them to become innovative problem-solvers in their communities. Through initiatives of this nature, students are encouraged to identify local challenges, develop practical solutions and transform their ideas into sustainable businesses that generate income and contribute to local economic development.
The judging panel comprised representatives from Vodacom, Standard Bank, Absa and MEGA. Their participation brought valuable industry perspectives to the event, while the evaluation process gave participants an opportunity to demonstrate the potential and viability of their business ideas.
Following the presentations and evaluations, the top three participants were recognised for their entrepreneurial efforts:
- Winner: Moyane Thandiwe – Received R2,000 and a Vodacom Speedpoint device.
- First runner-up: Sibiya Lwazi (Sotobe02) – Received R1,500 and a Speedpoint device.
- Second runner-up: Jiyane Sphesihle (Sphe Takeaways) – Received R1,000 and a Speedpoint device.
The recognition of the winners highlighted the creativity, determination and entrepreneurial spirit demonstrated by students at the Barberton Campus. The prizes also provided an incentive for participants to continue developing their business ideas and pursuing opportunities for growth.
Ehlanzeni TVET College recognises the important role entrepreneurship plays in equipping students with practical skills, business knowledge and the confidence to pursue self-employment and enterprise development. By providing opportunities for students to showcase their ideas and engage with industry stakeholders, the College seeks to foster a culture of innovation, self-reliance and economic participation.
The Market Day also reinforced the role of CFERI in nurturing entrepreneurial talent and supporting students as they explore opportunities to turn their ideas into viable business ventures. Through such initiatives students gain valuable exposure to business development, product promotion and the importance of presenting their ideas to potential partners and stakeholders.
Through continued initiatives of this nature, Ehlanzeni TVET College aims to empower students to move beyond theoretical knowledge, embrace entrepreneurial thinking and become active contributors to the economic and social development of their communities.
