The Business Investment Competition (BIC) rewards outstanding work in entrepreneurship and encourages small and medium enterprises to thrive and lead the country’s economic development. The competition is open to South African, black-owned and registered small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that have been operating for more than 24 months in the agriculture and agri-processing, engineering and construction, manufacturing, as well as trade and services sectors.
With R1.3 million worth of prizes, the competition helps enterprises take their operations to the next level. Over and above the financial rewards, business skills and training are provided to contribute towards sustainability.
The overall winner for 2017 took home a cash prize of R150 000. Winners in each of the four sectors received R100 000, first runners-up in each sector received R50 000, while second runners-up collected R25 000. The rest of the finalists each received R5 000. Prizes included a cash component to invest into the business, as well as a series of training workshops to gain or harness their business skills.
In addition, all finalists were given fully subsidised exhibition space at the annual three-day Small Business Expo held at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg. Every year, the expo provides SMEs with a versatile marketing platform from which to build brand awareness and network with potential customers and investors.
The team of adjudicators was impressed by the quality of the 2017 competition entrants. The finalists showcased their excellent business skills, professionalism and the passion for their businesses as they competed for top honours. Despite the fierce competition, the adjudicators all agreed that they had found a worthy winner in Johannesburg-based Reba Chemicals.
Overall winner: Reba Chemicals
Sustaining a business for 35 years, while building a client base of 110, is Reba Chemicals’ owner, Freddy Motau’s greatest success. His company manufactures industrial chemicals, and has created 19 permanent jobs over the years, including 10 learnerships.
The business has manufactured water treatment chemicals for RandWater; industrial chemicals for CureChem; provided water treatment for AquaTrait and Automotive chemicals for Hankel.
“For me, the purpose of establishing Reba Chemicals was to replace imported chemicals from Europe and the USA, where I had identified a gap and an opportunity for a local player. We started off by trading in organic metal sorts including nickel phosphate, cobalt nitrate, and others in 1985 and expanded with time,” says Motau.
In 2005, the business introduced water treatment, metal treatment, firefighting and industrial products. Water treatment products include hydrochloric acid, flocculants, poly aluminium chloride, lime and activated carbon, which are used in water purification.
“While access to markets has been the greatest challenge for us, especially in mining and government parastatals, the business has grown quite a lot in terms of staff, sales, and assets and we are looking at using our prize money from the BIC to amplify that growth,” declares Motau.
Agriculture and agri-processing sector winner: Eden All Natural
Eden All Natural took top honours and a R100 000 cash prize in the agriculture and agri-processing sector at the BIC. The Cape Town-based firm, owned and led by Debbie Matake, manufactures natural peanut butter with 100% peanuts and no additives, preservatives or sugar. The peanut butter is produced using grade A peanuts, which are slowly roasted in a conventional oven simply to retain important nutrients.
After scouting the market and failing to find the natural peanut butter they wanted (with no additives, preservatives or sugar), Matake and her husband Brighton, decided to create their own in 2013. Their peanut butter is produced at their plant in Kensington and available in a number of flavours, including cinnamon and raisin, crunchy, smooth, choc chip and seeded/nutty and honey.
The Matakes started marketing and selling their product amongst friends and family. Following that, the demand for their product skyrocketed, which led them to look for more opportunities at trade fairs and malls. As fate would have it, one day while displaying the product at a Cape Town mall, two gentlemen approached them and tasted the peanut butter. The men loved it and turned out to be regional buyers for Pick n Pay retailer.
“In April 2016, we started supplying our product to Pick n Pay. We also supply to Spar and Wellness Warehouse. At the start, we experienced similar struggles that many small businesses do, including lack of resources. But as soon as we found a production plant, we approached the municipality for compliance and got a license. We are looking at securing other big retailers and expanding into other places like Johannesburg, which our prize money will go towards” says Matake.
Engineering and construction sector winner: Oakantswe Construction and Projects
After being a runner-up in the same category in 2016, Oakantswe Construction and Projects came back and did one better in 2017.
When managing director, Tebogo Moloi established her Tshwane-based company in 2010, she knew that she was entering a male dominated environment, but that didn’t deter this ambitious entrepreneur. The company provides electrical and telecommunications services including installations and maintenance. They cater mainly to property developers, government and the private sector. They specialise in electrical installations and maintenance in buildings, mini substations, minor and major reticulation, fibre to the home/business installations, street lights etc.
The company also operates in the telecommunications sector, where they have a contract with Huawei, for whom they install optic fibre which includes civil work, hauling of ducts, floating, splicing, and manholes and cable installation and termination. They will be using the prize money to grow this part of their business by buying more equipment, including generators, extension ladders, grinding machines, splicing machine, floating machine, and electrical test kits. A portion of the money will go towards training and skills development.
Moloi had tried her hand at various businesses before opening her latest company. She studied credit management at university and after completing it got a job as a flight attendant where she worked for two years. While in that job she bought clothes from overseas and resold them locally.
“I later started Small Important People, which organised kids’ parties and fun days for companies. When the market became too saturated, I decided to venture into other avenues and that’s when Oakantswe was established. We now have 15 employees, and are looking at growing into other markets around the country,” says Moloi.
Manufacturing sector winner: IKIM Solutions
IKIM Solutions specialises in the manufacturing of washing powder, hand creams and water purification services, and has created nine jobs.
The business, which operates from King Williams Town (Eastern Cape) and Fourways (Gauteng), manufactures XPO Washing Powder and Vintage Vee Hand Creams for a number of clients, including SPAR, SAVERITE outlets and the general Public.
IKIM, run by Zimasa and Viwe Matyunjwa, was registered in 2006 with a name inspired by a customised furniture making company called IKEA, and with the sole purpose of applying science to make people’s lives by using their acumen in chemistry.
The business has since grown in the water treatment industry, giving guidance and providing service to about eight municipalities in the Eastern Cape. Its manufacturing portfolio has grown in household cleaning with XPO washing powder being the flagship brand amongst other personal care products available in retailers in the Eastern Cape.
“Our greatest success to date, has been the successful launch of our XPO washing powder brand and getting listed in many retail outlets in the Eastern Cape. Winning in the BIC meant a lot to us, and will contribute immensely towards our growth as we’ll use the prizemoney to invest in equipment and implements needed to improve efficiency and productivity in the business,” says Zimasa.
Trade and Services sector winner: eWaste Africa
KwaZulu-Natal-based eWaste Africa is a recycling company – the first in Africa to recycle florescent tubes, along with energy saving and mercury lightbulbs.
Owner Praveshen Naidoo, was able to grow the company’s client list to 130 in three years by approaching customers directly, cold-calling and perfecting their elevator pitch.
The company recycles hazardous lightbulbs for clients, including: Sasol, ArcelorMittal SA, Nedbank, Pick n Pay and FNB. The business provides clients with bulbs; collects bulbs and sends off by-products for recycling.
“I have always been extremely passionate about providing a service that is environmentally friendly. I love the work we do but more importantly, we believe in the work we do. Our company has created 20 new jobs whilst saving the environment,” says Naidoo.
Naidoo won the Youth Entrepreneur Award in the Premier Business Awards in 2016; came second in the 2016 SAB Kickstart Boost Competition; and won the Nedbank PCB Spirit Entrepreneurship Award in 2016.