Johannesburg - Township businesses looking to receive a financial boost can now apply for the 2016 Township Entrepreneurship Awards (TEA).
The three shortlisted businesses in all 14 categories would also be featured in a reality-style TV documentary.
Speaking at the launch event yesterday, MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Lebogang Maile, said at some point every entrepreneur faced setbacks, obstacles and challenges in their business, but only those who persist triumph over these circumstances.
He said all finalists would participate in a 14-part reality television series that would see them going through a series of real and practical business experiences intended to sharpen and enhance their business skills. Nominees who qualified in 2015 received R100 000 and the winners received R200 000.
Maile said the awards, supported by the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller and Independent Media, hoped to offer even greater financial incentives this year.
Kgomotso Pooe, the 2015 TEA winner was selected for his “Soweto Outdoor Adventure” tourism initiative, which he started in 2010.
The 2016 campaign received over 250 entries and the adjudication process was arduous, said group executive for public sector events and township projects for Independent Media, Mike Ntsasa, who also sits on the judging panel.
Industry experts will be involved in selecting the winners.
He said the criteria included the nominee to be based and operating from a Gauteng township: Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng, West Rand and Joburg. They also need to be tax compliant and the businesses’ annual turnover cannot exceed R2 million.
The 14 categories include food and beverages, tourism and creative industries, retail and finance, service manufacturing, transport, automotive and components, construction, building and real estate, social and community (community centres, not for profit businesses), new/start-up enterprise, entrepreneur with a disability, youth entrepreneur of the year, woman entrepreneur of the year and the overall winner entrepreneur of the year.
Entries close on September 16. Information can be found on the www.townshipentrepreneurshipawards.co.za website.
Nominees (at least three in each of the 14 categories) will be announced on October 27, once the applications have be scrutinised. A process of judging these will carry into the new year and winners will be announced in March 2017.
THE STAR