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Young farmer wins youth entrepreneur programme

Johannesburg - Clement Pilusa, owner of Pilusa and Mabotja Farming based in Tshwane, Gauteng, is the overall winner of the SAB Kickstart 2015, the youth entrepreneurship development programme of South African Breweries (SAB).

The programme has been running for the past 20 years. This year's top five winning youth-owned businesses will receive a share of R1.5m in business grants. An independent panel of business experts selected the final winners according to their progress throughout the competition.

The top five winners were selected from a group of 18 SAB KickStart finalists who completed a year-long programme of business development support, which included a business growth strategy designed for their business, grant funding of between R100 000 and R200 000, and individualised business mentorship. The top 18 national finalists created more than 100 fulltime and part-time jobs in 2015.
 
Pilusa's business will be provided with a first place grant fund of R500 000, which adds to the seed capital of R170 000 he received at the start of the programme early this year. Pilusa (26) established his farming and fresh produce business in 2012, beginning with vegetables and later expanding into broiler chicken production. He said SAB KickStart has helped him to differentiate his business from competitors.

READ: Entrepreneurs need risk taking skills, says Zulu

The mentorship provided also played a vital role in altering his focus within the business and making better business investment decisions.
 
“All businesses need training, commitment, passion, hard work, good marketing skills and financial planning. Through my efforts and the support structure offered by SAB KickStart this year, we were able to take my business a step further in its journey to success,” said Pilusa.

In second place was Ranjan Sewgambar of Private Practicing Audiologist based in Durban, who won a grant of R400 000. He established his healthcare practice in 2009 and provides diagnostic audiology and hearing aid services.
 
Third place winner, Caroline Kgomo of Meqheleng Waste Management based in Ficksburg, Free State, received a business grant of R300 000 and Chantelle Smith of Health View Clinic in Johannesburg, Gauteng, who is in the fourth place received R200 000. Fifth place Angelo Maart of EnviroCare from Cape Town, Western Cape, was awarded a business grant of R100 000.
 
All five winners will receive an additional six-month long programme of business development support and mentorship to assist in efficiently employing the grant investment provided.
 
“Our support model is designed to build and strengthen the capabilities of the SMEs so that they become sustainable entities with the ability to achieve one of government’s top priorities - creating jobs while at the same time making a worthwhile contribution the country’s economy,” explained Octavius Phukubye, SAB's economic development manager.
 
“The key objective of SAB KickStart and its model of business development support is to ensure that the start-up businesses thrive rather than merely survive. This support creates an enabling environment in which young entrepreneurs are able to assist others in becoming economically active.”

ALSO READ: R5m funding boost for young entrepreneurs

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