Boost for KZN’s brightest businessmen

to nearly 700 businesses, resulting in over 8 000 jobs being created.

Winners

The overall winner who took away the Entrepreneur of the Year title and R100

000 plus R10 000 for charity was Phumulani Ngwenya, the owner of Siyanda Stationery trading as Kwalala Lodge.

Pongola resident Ngwenya was an entrepreneur from young, selling boiled eggs and sweet potatoes at school. A prominent figure in the local tourism sector, Ngwenya has 171 employees.

Five category award winners each received R30 000 plus R5 000 for charity. They are: Logistical Services Business of the Year: Thamsanqa Ngcobo of Umlalazi Trading; Franchise Business of the Year: Muziwethu Shinga of Majestic

AN ANNUAL

King Fast Foods; Micro Business of the Year: Zaba Ngubane of Logoman Designs; Agriculture Business of the Year: Bhekuyise Magwaza of Ngqobeni Farm; and Tourism and Hospitality Business of the Year: Mlungisi Nzuza from Nongoma.

This year’s special award for the Most Promising Young Entrepreneur went to Sabelo Buthelezi, the owner of Limco Logistics.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Sihle Zikalala encouraged the winners to expand their business and become recognised both nationally and across Africa.