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Free State entrepreneur wins big

Johannesburg - Tommy Makhatho, owner of BiBi Cash & Carry, a retail group situated in the rural area of Qwa Qwa in the Free State, is the overall winner of the 2013 Sanlam/Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year competition.

This was following an intense judging process and assessment of the 14 successful entrepreneur finalists.

Makhatho was also awarded with the Job Creator of the Year title due to the significant contribution he has made in the local community by providing jobs to more than 680 employees.

According to Nimo Naidoo, project manager of the Sanlam/Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year competition, Makhatho was awarded the overall title because of his ability to build and grow a sustainable business.

This was despite facing strong competition from established supermarket chains in the area, as well his determination to continuously seek ways to increase his bottom line.

The competition is now in its 25th year.

Jonathan Pepler of Silverline Group was awarded the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award and Andrew and Chris Brown, co-founders of The Daily Buzz, took the Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year award home.

Anton Rossouw, founder and owner of Life Path Health, won the Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year award.

The Innovator of the Year title was awarded to Dr Conrad Smith and pharmacist, Mariaan du Plessis, founders and owners of Medical Nutritional Institute.

Their innovative product range competes internationally among other successful products.

The competition provides prizes worth R1 340 000, which includes cash prizes to the value of R300 000.

Naidoo said that beyond the monetary prizes, the winners’ businesses will also benefit significantly from the competitions various networking opportunities and associated marketing and national media exposure.

An additional award that was handed out this year was the Lifetime Achiever Award, which was awarded to Margaret Hirsch, chief operations officer of the national appliance store, Hirsch’s.

“This award serves as recognition for those entrepreneurs who have continually contributed towards the development and growth of South African entrepreneurship,” said Naidoo.

Xolani Meva, a member of the 2013 Sanlam/Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year judging panel, said that while the quality of entrants improves each year, this year revealed a significant increase in the quality of businesses entering.

“In spite of the economic climate they have had to trade in over the past couple of years, SMEs are continuing to make a serious contribution to the economy,” said Meva.

“Being an entrepreneur is no walk in the park, no matter how long someone has been an entrepreneur. These individuals wake up to a different kind of a challenge every day, and with their never-say-die attitude, they soldier on and continue to make their businesses bigger and better, and the spin-offs to the economy are invaluable."

Naidoo said that not only do entrepreneurs generate much wealth, but they also provide a substantial number of jobs for the citizens of South Africa.

“Entrepreneurial excellence should be promoted as the norm and not the exception. By promoting and supporting these entrepreneurs as role models we hope it will serve as an inspiration to others to succeed in the world of business,” concluded Naidoo.

- Fin24

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