Cape Town: Graduates from the Expanded Public Works Programme’s (EPWP) Entrepreneurship Trainee Programme (EETP) by the City of Cape Town that took part in a three-month voluntary business collaboration pilot, which culminated in a moving awards ceremony last week.
Reportedly, the event honoured the most promising, innovative and impactful partnerships that were formed during the programme. It involved fifty-two graduates in total from the programme.
The event was hosted by the Corporate EPWP Office of the City of Cape Town and supported the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), the pilot encouraged the graduates to team up, pool their resources and test the new joint business ventures.
Entrepreneurs further explores a wide range of opportunities, that included market expansion, corporate social investment, value chain synergy and sustainability-driven business models.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Urban Waste Management – Alderman Grant Twigg said that the collaboration pilot was more than just a project. Indeed, it was a bold step in building an ecosystem of inclusive entrepreneurship in Cape Town. These entrepreneurs showed them what’s possible when partnerships are driven by purpose, innovation and shared growth.
Furthermore, to support their continued growth, the winning teams were awarded entry into the City of Cape Town’s High Impact Supplier Development Programme for 2025. The programme equips entrepreneurs with essential supply chain management strategies that are valued at R12,500 per SMME, along with financial tools and operational skills to become suppliers of choice in both the public and private sectors.
Alderman Twigg explained that the Entrepreneurship Trainee Programme has laid the foundation for new ways of thinking about public employment and enterprise development and has yielded valuable learning, both for the City of Cape Town and for the implementation partner.
The Programme proved that the public employment can be a powerful catalyst for growth and jobs when designed with purpose. EETP continued to evolve placing entrepreneurship, dignity and opportunity at the centre of economic inclusion in Cape Town.
Overall winners of the pilot were chosen on the basis of their business model pitches, who were:
- Jonathan Salies and Pinel Motswagole – for their concept focused on high-end pet wear and accessories.
- Luntu Majjiya and Unathi Mnani – for developing a women’s business network.
- Alungile Nonyongo, Natalie Hurling and Sisamkele Ndudula – for their work in health and wellness.
Winners of other categories included:
- Most Innovative Collaboration – Health and wellness entrepreneurs, Alungile Nonyongo, Natalie Hurling and Sisamkele Ndudula.
- Most Income Potential and Most Potential to Generate Employment – Zulpha Hartley and Rustim Afriedien for their business offering SETA-funded learner placements and support for physically-challenged individuals.
- Most Likely to Succeed – Layla Barnes and Tashreeq Isaacs for their print, design and media services venture.
- Most Environmentally Aware – Amanda Roberts, Jacqueline Damens and Dina Gertse for their education and recycling initiative supporting schools through CSI partnerships.
- SDG Recognition Award – Sivise Magqazolo and Khaya Burwana for an enterprise that combines farming, agriculture and education to drive social impact.
- Most Potential to Export – Luntu majiya and Unathi Mnani for the Women’s Business Network.
- Most Potential to Scale Up – Sivise Magqazolo and Khaya Buewana, again recognised for their growth-ready agriculture and education concept.