From left to right: Front: Mrs Vanessa Williams (Lecturer), Naeema Koekman (student), Lusanda Nyhivane (student), Mrs Fazielah Allie (Judge), Michael Robberts (student), Mr Anga Bonongo (Judge), Elmarquin Koopman (student), Honjiswa Dutywa (student), Luluthando Nongalo (student).
Back: Mr Lusapo Ntsomboti (Support Staff), Mr Seymore Bothma (Lecturer), Mr Charles Goodwin (Principal), Mr Hyacinth Adams (Lecturer), Mrs Wendy Adams (Vice-Principal: Registration Services), Mr Bathandwa Mooi (Assistant Director: Partnerships and Linkages), Mr Mkhululi Manana (Judge), Mr Bongumusa Biyela (Judge) and Bulelwa Makeleni Pato (Judge).
Boland College proudly hosted the Allan Gray Makers InterCollege Entrepreneurship Competition on Saturday, 17 May 2025, bringing together some of the most dynamic and driven young entrepreneurs from our various campuses. The competition took place at our Head Office and featured student participants who showcased their creativity, business insight, and entrepreneurial passion.
Competitors presented in three categories: “I have an Innovative Business Idea” and “I have a General Business” and “I have a Tech Business”, pitching their concepts and existing enterprises to a panel of esteemed judges. The event was a vibrant celebration of student innovation, highlighting the potential of TVET learners to contribute meaningfully to the South African economy through entrepreneurship.
We extend our sincere appreciation to our generous sponsors, MacMillan, Sanlam and ABSA, for their valuable contributions towards the prizes awarded to the winners across all categories. Their continued support plays a vital role in nurturing and rewarding entrepreneurial talent at Boland College.
We were honoured to welcome a distinguished panel of judges who brought expertise from a wide range of industries:
- Bongumusa Biyela, Western Cape Regional Manager (National Empowerment Fund)
- Mkhululi Manana, Managing Director (Insurance Company)
- Fazielah Allie, Manufacturer (K9 Petfood)
- Anga Bonongo, Director (Bonsolo Trading (Pty) Ltd)
- Shahied Allie (SEDFA)
- Bulelwa Makeleni Pato (SEDFA)
Their insights and constructive feedback were invaluable to our students and added significant credibility to the competition. We commend all participants for their courage and commitment to entrepreneurship and extend our congratulations to the winners:
- I have an innovative business idea:
- Lusanda Lucky Nyhivane
- Naeema Koekman
- I have a general business:
- Luluthando Nongalo
- Elmarquin Koopman
- I have a Tech business:
- Michael Robberts
- Honjiswa Dutywa
This year marked a historic moment for Boland College and the competition as a whole—for the first time, a blind student participated in the event and went on to win in the ‘I Have a Tech Business’ category. His remarkable achievement is a testament to the competition’s inclusive spirit and our students’ limitless potential.
We look forward to seeing all our winners participate in the regional competition in August, and we can’t wait for them to take that competition by storm! The energy, innovation, and drive displayed throughout the day were truly inspiring, reaffirming Boland College’s dedication to fostering a culture of entrepreneurship among our students.