This funding was divided into 27 grants of R100,000, aimed at assisting local entrepreneurs in advancing their small businesses. The recipients of these grants included 85% students and 15% community-based entrepreneurs, all of whom have established and currently run small businesses.
The grant’s purpose is to help these businesses grow, building on the support provided by the Hub and CfERI, which have already incubated 34 small businesses that created 84 jobs in the previous year.
Mandela University actively promotes entrepreneurial development and has a policy that allows students to operate businesses on campus while employing other students.
Business ventures on the Gqeberha and George campuses include tutoring services, website development, food vendors, fashion stores, and more. To operate a business on campus, students must sign a lease agreement with the University and pay a rental fee.
Dr Thobekani Lose, Director of the University’s Africa Hub and Head of CfERI, emphasised the need for universities to be at the forefront of reducing South Africa's high unemployment rates, particularly among youth.
His expertise in business incubation stems from his PhD research, and he has published numerous peer-reviewed papers in this field.
Through funding from the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEFDA), CfERI offers an incubation programme for students, graduate entrepreneurs, and young township entrepreneurs, providing them with essential services and support.
“Incubated businesses need capital to grow and as the Hub we decided to create an Enterprise Development Fund, to which the University’s finance division granted the R2.7million.
"The incubatees all have to provide us with business financials to show how they invested the R100 000 they received,” says Dr Lose.
The University’s B-BBEE policy includes an Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) component, recognising the importance of directing resources toward fostering entrepreneurial success in both student and community contexts.
Mandela University is committed to positioning itself as an entrepreneurial institution, a vision championed by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sibongile Muthwa, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Luthando Jack.
The creation of the Mandela University Africa Hub in 2024 reflects this commitment, aiming to drive entrepreneurship and social innovation across the continent. Karen Snyman, a long-time entrepreneurship specialist at the University, explained that the Hub’s focus is initially on South African universities, with plans to expand to other African institutions.
Supported by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the University’s entrepreneurship programmes, such as the Student Employability and Entrepreneurship Development (SEED) programme, help students balance their academic commitments with business activities. This co-curricular programme encourages students to develop time management and entrepreneurial skills.
Dr Lose added that they would one day like to be in a position to influence national policy to include entrepreneurial education from the basic education level upwards. He says: “We need far more leadership across all sectors to make sure entrepreneurship development gets enough funding, resources, awareness and a powerful voice.”
Madiba’s Ice Cream
Tsakani Shilowe, a master’s student in Applied Language Studies, is the owner of Madiba’s Ice Cream, a soft-serve ice cream business she started in March 2023 on South Campus.
Sharing space with a fellow student selling iced coffee, Tsakani’s business has thrived with support from the Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator (CfERI).
Through the incubation programme, she has learned valuable business skills, including understanding employment contracts, which has helped her hire a student to assist with her business, allowing her to balance her entrepreneurial endeavours with her demanding studies.
“With the R100 000 grant money I received, I paid off the debt on my first ice cream-making machine and equipment and bought a second machine and established a second outlet at the Sanlam Student Village.
“My dream is to be as big as Milky Lane, and have some ice cream vans that drive around the streets and beach playing that familiar tune.”
The Patio
Anita Sodladla, a chef and community entrepreneur, founded The Patio in June 2021, initially a takeaway spot.
Within a year, she expanded to include a catering business, a mobile food truck for festivals and markets, and a restaurant for 50 people located between Gqeberha’s Struandale industrial area and the Zwide/Kwazakhele townships.
In 2024, she joined the CfERI incubation programme to enhance her skills in business management, including contracts, quotations, finances, and scaling.
Anita applied for and received a R100,000 grant, which she used to purchase a second food trailer and hire two additional staff to manage her growing business.
Popular dishes at The Patio include loaded fries and the “Gatsby” – a bun filled with fries, grilled chicken, pork, or hake, and special sauce. The business is busiest on weekends and paydays and also hosts events like “Chill ‘n Paint.”
“The incubation programme has taught me valuable lessons, such as the importance of forming partnerships and diversifying business activities. Six of us have formed a business to help other townships businesses to become compliant and to assist them with registration, staff training and accounting”, Anita says.
Additionally, she has applied for R250,000 in funding from SEFDA to further grow her business, with hopes of eventually expanding The Patio and franchising it.
Advanced Academy of Excellence
Second-year BCom Accountancy student Winston Letwaba is the Managing Director of the Advanced Academy of Excellence, an online tutoring academy, and a CfERI incubatee.
His academy employs 21 tutors, primarily second, third, and final year students in fields like engineering, accountancy, IT, and medicine.
Tutors earn between R50 and R100 per hour, while learners pay R49 to R69 per hour based on their grade level.
The R100,000 grant helped establish a website for the academy and purchase tech equipment like videography tools, tablets, and headphones to enable nationwide connectivity.
Tutors also visit schools in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro to assist learners without online access. “We’re seeking funding to support under-resourced schools and learners,” he says.
Part of the grant was used for branding and promotional materials like banners, gazebos, and apparel for tutors and they recently launched an influencer marketing campaign at Victoria Park High.
In addition, Winston runs a second business creating content for social media, and through his incubation, he produced content for the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Indaba, which was attended by 26 universities.
“I was also a national finalist in the EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity and won several entrepreneurship competitions, including a R50,000 investment from Nedbank in the Township Entrepreneurs Alliance pitch.
“I believe in the motto "your network is your net worth," and the connections I’ve made through the incubation programme have significantly contributed to my business's success," says Winston.
Hector Pieterson Tuckshop
In 2024, Akhanya Ntantiso, third-year marine engineering student. ran a successful tuckshop inside the Hector Pieterson residence on North Campus with Clair Lucille Oosthuizen, a final year Education student.
They raised R50,000 each to start the business, working at Steers and Checkers to fund it. “Our shop was busy, and we sold a range of products, including bread, cold drinks, and snacks.
"The space required us to be a registered business and present a plan to a panel. We paid R2,700 monthly rent and employed eight students for four-hour shifts.”
“As a first-time entrepreneur, being an incubatee was crucial for learning how to manage profits, expenses, and employee contracts.
"Clair handled admin, while I managed the shop and employee issues. This year, we handed over the space to new entrepreneurs, as many students apply for it," Akhanya said.
He is now using the profits and a grant from the University to start a student transport service near the Summerstrand campuses. He has purchased two second-hand cars and found a responsible business partner. His goal is to grow the fleet to five cars, ensuring drivers meet strict criteria.
“Although this transport business is challenging, my previous experience as an incubatee gives me the confidence to succeed.”
Naturally Nirvana Beauty
“My entrepreneurial journey began with the CfERI in 2022, after starting my business, Naturally Nirvana, in 2021”, says Nicole Louw, fourth year Diploma in Management student.
The business focuses on manufacturing and selling natural haircare products, inspired by my dissatisfaction with commercial products.
As a keen gardener, Nicole grows many of the plants she uses, such as hibiscus, aloe vera, rosemary, mint, and rose. The name "Nirvana" reflects the peace she found through yoga during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nicole learned to make lotions through a course at InnoVenton, a campus research institute, and further researched online. She sells online and advertises on campus.
With the University grant, she is opening a natural haircare salon near the residences, where students will work and use Naturally Nirvana products.
“Being an incubatee has taught me the importance of understanding my target market, having proper paperwork, and providing excellent customer service and quality products.
Currently balancing my studies and business, I plan to focus on expanding my market and selling my products in other salons after graduation,” she says.