Small businesses are a cornerstone of South Africa’s economy - driving innovation, job creation, and community development. A report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in 2023 found that small businesses contributed up to 34% of South Africa’s GDP and played an essential role in addressing the country's unemployment and economic inequality challenges.
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has seen the gap and has been actively preparing its students to make a meaningful impact through its Department of Management & Entrepreneurship and the Small Business Clinic within the Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences (EMS).
Students in the Starting a Small Business module (MAN201) and the ADM639, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development module, presented business plans developed in partnership with real small businesses on 13 November 2024. Prizes were given to reward innovative thinking and the determination of UWC’s young entrepreneurs. The event underlined the University’s commitment to practical learning that bridges academic knowledge with real-world applications.
Dr Ntandoyenkosi Sibindi, Head of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship at UWC, opened the award ceremony that was sponsored by Old Mutual, and underscored the importance of experiential projects in equipping students for the competitive job market.
“It gives us great pleasure, especially as educators, to see the assurance that the economic activity that always defines a country, a society, will carry on - especially with ideas coming from young people,” he said.
Nandipha Kondlo, one of the lecturers of the Starting a Small Business module, reflected on the students’ journey. She described it as one that was marked by challenges and growth.
“These students are incredibly capable individuals. As lecturers, we may seem harsh at times, but we could see the potential in our students and wanted to unleash it. Due to their efforts, they are now well-prepared and can be proud of themselves,” said Kondlo. The highlight of the day was the announcement of the winning business plan. The first prize went to a team that crafted a business proposal for Imvoto Waters, a venture founded in 2019 by a student, Inathi Nokhepheyi. The team’s business model for Imvoto Waters captured the judges' attention. It merged cultural heritage with modern market needs.
Owethu Peki, a second-year BCom General student who worked on the project, explained their enthusiasm for working with Imvoto Waters.
“Imvoto is a Xhosa word for water, used by our great-great-grandfathers. In the rural areas of the Eastern Cape, they don’t say amanzi; they say imvoto. That’s how powerful the name is,” said Peki. He highlighted the deep cultural meaning behind the brand.
Founder of Imvoto Waters, Inathi Nokhepheyi, further elaborated the vision for the brand: “The name came about as a way to integrate cultural experiences with the modern world. It was important that we didn’t lose our values. It was my way of bringing my cultural experiences into today’s world.” The Starting a Small Business initiative reflected UWC’s dedication to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in students, empowering them to make tangible contributions to South Africa’s economy. Small businesses are pivotal to job creation. An estimated 22% of total business turnover - approximately R2.3-trillion out of R10.5 trillion in 2024 - was generated by this sector. These enterprises created job opportunities that larger corporations may overlook, particularly in underserved communities, and offered a path toward economic empowerment and community resilience.
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has seen the gap and has been actively preparing its students to make a meaningful impact through its Department of Management & Entrepreneurship and the Small Business Clinic within the Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences (EMS).
Students in the Starting a Small Business module (MAN201) and the ADM639, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development module, presented business plans developed in partnership with real small businesses on 13 November 2024. Prizes were given to reward innovative thinking and the determination of UWC’s young entrepreneurs. The event underlined the University’s commitment to practical learning that bridges academic knowledge with real-world applications.
Dr Ntandoyenkosi Sibindi, Head of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship at UWC, opened the award ceremony that was sponsored by Old Mutual, and underscored the importance of experiential projects in equipping students for the competitive job market.
“It gives us great pleasure, especially as educators, to see the assurance that the economic activity that always defines a country, a society, will carry on - especially with ideas coming from young people,” he said.
Nandipha Kondlo, one of the lecturers of the Starting a Small Business module, reflected on the students’ journey. She described it as one that was marked by challenges and growth.
“These students are incredibly capable individuals. As lecturers, we may seem harsh at times, but we could see the potential in our students and wanted to unleash it. Due to their efforts, they are now well-prepared and can be proud of themselves,” said Kondlo. The highlight of the day was the announcement of the winning business plan. The first prize went to a team that crafted a business proposal for Imvoto Waters, a venture founded in 2019 by a student, Inathi Nokhepheyi. The team’s business model for Imvoto Waters captured the judges' attention. It merged cultural heritage with modern market needs.
Owethu Peki, a second-year BCom General student who worked on the project, explained their enthusiasm for working with Imvoto Waters.
“Imvoto is a Xhosa word for water, used by our great-great-grandfathers. In the rural areas of the Eastern Cape, they don’t say amanzi; they say imvoto. That’s how powerful the name is,” said Peki. He highlighted the deep cultural meaning behind the brand.
Founder of Imvoto Waters, Inathi Nokhepheyi, further elaborated the vision for the brand: “The name came about as a way to integrate cultural experiences with the modern world. It was important that we didn’t lose our values. It was my way of bringing my cultural experiences into today’s world.” The Starting a Small Business initiative reflected UWC’s dedication to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in students, empowering them to make tangible contributions to South Africa’s economy. Small businesses are pivotal to job creation. An estimated 22% of total business turnover - approximately R2.3-trillion out of R10.5 trillion in 2024 - was generated by this sector. These enterprises created job opportunities that larger corporations may overlook, particularly in underserved communities, and offered a path toward economic empowerment and community resilience.
