According to Brand South Africa (Brand SA), many young South Africans are now turning to creative and innovative solutions, such as entrepreneurship as an alternative to finding a job. Equipping aspiring business owners with the appropriate skills to make their businesses successful has become vitally important, says the agency. 

Since its establishment, the 'Play Your Part Ignite' campaign has acted as a driving force for the entrepreneurial spirit of burgeoning business owners and has assisted with the guidance needed to bring their businesses and business ideas to life, the agency says. 

The campaign, which launched in July 2022, assists with fine-tuning existing and new business ideas, providing participants with the opportunity to pitch their ideas, all while giving them a chance to win their share of R25 000.

To date, the roadshow has visited:
  • Polokwane
  • Rustenburg
  • Durban
  • Johannesburg, and
  • Cape Town.
It will be visiting Mbombela in September.

The first Ignite session in Mbombela, will take place on Wednesday, 6 September at the Capital Mbombela. The masterclass will be presented by previous Ignite winner, entrepreneur and 'Play Your Part' ambassador Shurldrae Rosen.

Shurldrae attended the first Ignite masterclass held in Gauteng in 2022 and took first place in the pitching session with his green concept. Shurldrae is the co-founder of Bubele Africa, an organisation focussed on creating a brighter future for all, through river clean-ups that also offer an opportunity to feed the homeless.

The Mbombela leg of the roadshow will be hosting 200 potential entrepreneurs for the masterclass and pitching session. Stakeholders will be part of the Mbombela Ignite session, such as:
  • Harambee Youth Accelerator
  • SA Youth Network, and
  • Mpumalanga Entrepreneurship Growth Agency. 

According to the agency, the 'Play Your Part Ignite' campaign is specifically focussed on assisting young participants to construct a brief and concise business idea pitch to selected judges. Very often, budding entrepreneurs are not always given an opportunity to present their business ideas to potential investors, which would equip them with the individual skill sets required to enable them to sell their idea effectively and change their lives. 

Acting chief executive officer Sithembile Ntombela, says, "South Africa is a country with endless possibilities, a young population that is talented and skilled. Innovation and creativity are at the heart of who we are. 'Play Your Part Ignite' is, therefore, an enabling platform for them to create new opportunities for the youth of tomorrow."

The 'Play Your Part Ignite' masterclass has empowered aspiring entrepreneurs, like Portia Mavhungu, founder of PRDLS and inventor of the Para-Tube. The Para-Tube, a built-in latrine for wheelchair users, won over the Ignite panel of judges and secured a mentorship with HWSETA CEO, Elaine Brass, which then led to her securing funding and securing her patent internationally.

The most recent Ignite session held in Cape Town hosted 200 individuals, where Cleopatra Ngoie took first place and won R12 000. Cleopatra is a qualified nurse, entrepreneur and owner of Shap Left Healthcare Services, which specialises in primary and occupational healthcare.

The 'Play Your Part' campaign is an opportunity for individuals to ignite their entrepreneurial journey by attending the masterclass and pitching session, and a chance to win a share of R25 000. Brand SA encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to join the initiative and to follow 'Play Your Part' on Facebook for the event details. 

For more information, visit www.brandsouthafrica.com. You can also follow Brand South Africa on Facebook, X or on Instagram.