MDANTSANE- Four aspiring entrepreneurs from Eastern Cape Technical Vocational Education and Training(TVET) colleges will represent the province at a national entrepreneurship competition after emerging victorious at a regional contest held in Mdantsane on Friday.
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in the Eastern Cape hosted the regional entrepreneurship competition at Buffalo City TVET College, John Knox Campus in Mdantsane on 14th August, bringing together students from eight TVET colleges across the province.
Students from Buffalo City TVET College, Ingwe TVET College, Ikhala TVET College, King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) TVET College, Eastcape Midlands TVET College, Lovedale TVET College, Port Elizabeth TVET College and King Hintsa TVET College took part in the competition.
The regional contest was aimed at identifying promising student entrepreneurs who will represent the Eastern Cape at the national competition in Johannesburg on 4th September 2026.
Senior Programme Lead at Inspire Linda Dhladhla, said the initiative was designed to give students a platform to showcase their business ideas while exposing them to potential funding opportunities.
“We really wanted to create an initiative that would help students showcase what they are working on and the ideas they have, so that they can attract possible funding from interested stakeholders,” Dhladhla said.
Regional DHET Communications and Media Liaison Rapula Meso, representing the department’s regional office said the competition was particularly important because TVET colleges provide students with practical skills that can be translated into businesses.
“This is a perfect opportunity for TVET college students because our training is more practical. The competition provides a platform for students to unlock their entrepreneurial mindset and develop their business ideas,” Meso said.
Furthmore, Guest speaker Lwandy Ngebe encouraged the students not to make access to funding a condition for starting their businesses.
Ngebe urged aspiring entrepreneurs to use the resources available to them and begin building their businesses from where they are.
“Don’t wait for funding to start your business. Start with what you already have,” she said.
The competition produced four winners across four categories, with two students from Ingwe TVET College, one from Ikhala TVET College and one from Port Elizabeth TVET College securing places at the national event.
Among the winners was Lutho Hlonitshwayo from Ingwe TVET College’s Ngqungqushe Campus in Lusikisiki.
Hlonitshwayo said he was grateful for the opportunity to present his business idea and take another step towards turning his vision into reality.
He said one of his ambitions was to create employment opportunities for young people and encourage them to consider entrepreneurship instead of waiting for formal employment.
“I promise to do my best in the national competition and make our province proud,” Hlonitshwayo said.
In addition another winner, Tia Nzuzo from Port Elizabeth TVET College’s Dower Campus, said she was both excited and surprised by her victory.
Nzuzo said the competition had also exposed her to the creativity and potential of other young entrepreneurs from across the province.
“I also learnt that there are many creative minds out there and that is something we should not take for granted. As people, we need to invest in our ideas and give them a chance to grow,” she said.
The regional competition highlighted the growing entrepreneurial potential among TVET students in the Eastern Cape, while providing them with an opportunity to gain exposure beyond their campuses.
The four provincial winners will now turn their attention to Johannesburg, where they will compete against other TVET entrepreneurs from across the country on 4th September.
For the Eastern Cape students, the national competition represents an opportunity not only to compete but also to attract support, develop their business ideas and demonstrate how practical TVET training can translate into enterprise and job creation.
Okuhle Nqana
17 August 2026
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