Snl24 | Local hero bags R30K!

Mahlatse Mamaila from INO-Biodiesel, Makatu Tshivhula from The Light Candles and Vutomi Lubisi from Eully’s Cakery were named first, second and third place winners of the Gauteng IWISA No 1 Community Champions competition held in Ormonde, south of Joburg. Photo by Nhlanhla Khomola

FROM the heart of Tshwane, and owned by a young black woman, INO-Biodiesel was declared the R30 000, 2024 IWISA No 1 Community Champion of Gauteng winner on Friday, 26 July.

Mahlatse Mamaila from INO-Biodiesel, Makatu Tshivhula from The Light Candles, and Vutomi Lubisi from Eully’s Cakery were awarded first, second, and third place, respectively in the Gauteng IWISA No 1 Community Champions competition in Ormonde, south of Joburg.

Mahlatse received R30 000, Makatu secured R20 000, and Vutomi earned R10 000.

This followed a competitive session where winners contended with other businesses by presenting their enterprises.

The top 10, selected from 600 applicants after a pitch, engaged in a spirited contest to convince a panel of judges of their worthiness for the prize and plans for its use.

The announcement by IWISA No 1’s expert judging panel was met with loud applause from guests, supporters, and fellow champions, having witnessed a compelling morning session of pitches by the 10 remarkable SMEs shortlisted from the region.

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Each winner received prize money intended to further develop, grow, and sustain their businesses. Later in the year, they’ll also participate in in-person expert business development training with winners from other regions.

Speaking to Daily Sun, Mahlatse expressed her surprise and joy at winning, given the tough competition.

“What we do in my company is collect used cooking oil and convert it into fuel for running construction, mining, and general equipment. Being the winner of this competition feels amazing because the top 10 were brilliant. I was nervous,” Mahlatse said.

She added that with the R30 000, she plans to invest in advanced equipment.

Makatu, who operates his candle business outside Maponya Mall in Soweto, mentioned that he will use the R20 000 to invest in professional packaging, enabling him to start selling his products at retailers.

Vutomi, speaking to the SunTeam, shared that she supplies bakers in the rural areas with baking ingredients and tools via her online store.

“I ‘m excited. I’ve been pitching for the past four years and this is the first time I’m winning,” she said.

Marketing, media, and executive Sibongile Mooko said the competition aims to unlock social entrepreneurship ekasi through training, mentorship, and networking.

“This is the second year, and we used the competition to identify people who are doing good, upskill, and reward them. Now in its second year, the IWISA No 1 Community Champions competition recognises contribution made by local social entrepreneurs who have developed viable township SMEs that address social needs such as crime, poverty, or unemployment,” Mooko said.

“The competition is designed to prepare regional finalists from Gauteng, Free State, and the Eastern and Western Cape to pitch their SMEs to a panel of experts to win their share of the collective R60 000 allocated per region.”

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