CAPE TOWN - The winners for 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year competition were announced at an awards ceremony on 6 September 2017.
The Entrepreneur of the Year competition, sponsored by Sanlam and Business Partners is held annually to commend and honour South African entrepreneurs in the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sector.
The 29th annual competition provided prizes worth R2 million of which each of the five category winners received R60 000 while the overrall and first-place winner, Willem van der Merwe of Africa Biomass Company and the 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year received R160 000 torwards further growing his business.
2017 Entrepreneur of the Year competition winners:
2017 Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year: Sizwe Nzima and Siraaj Adams, owners of Iyeza Health.
2017 Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year: Itumeleng Phake, founder and owner of Zenzele Fitness Group.
2017 Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year: Nomfundo Mcoyi, founder and owner of Icebolethu Group.
2017 Job Creator of the Year: Siphiwe Ngcobo, owner and founder of iLawu Hospitality Group.
2017 Innovator of the Year: Mpodumo Doubada, founder and owner of Pimp My Book.
The 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year winner:
Willem van der Merwe of Africa Biomass Company.
“Through the establishment of Africa Biomass Company (ABC) – which specialises in land clearing, wood chipping, and wood recycling – Willem van der Merwe has not only created a successful business by clearing landowners unwanted trees, he has also shaped a new industry in South Africa by introducing the novel concept of wood recycling", said Spokesperson for the competition, Christo Botes.