A former truck driver with a passion for road safety scooped the top spot in the
Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Entrepreneur Competition. Rodney Chetty of Pro Driver academy plans on changing the face of truck driving with proper training and developing young drivers within the truck driving industry.

Raymond Mthembu of Phiwani Personnel and Business Solutions, who provide upholstery cleaning services took the coveted second place, while Rheka Kanaye of Thembekile Engineering and Welding School took the third place.

Small businesses from the whole spectrum of industries were encouraged to enter the competition last year. The Entrepreneurs competition kicked off in August last year when application forms and application boxes were strategically placed around various areas of the uThungulu district in order to give all small business owners a chance to enter the competition.

Judges scrutinised every entry form and selected 24 business owners, who then attended eight tutorial classes with experienced tutors. They learnt about goal setting, marketing and financial management and gained a wealth of knowledge about the sustainability of their business and enhanced their business skills.

The Zululand leg of the competition ended with an exhibition and prize giving ceremony, held at the Boardwalk Inkwazi Shopping Centre on Thursday 28 January. The final group of contestants exhibited their products and services to the general public.

Addressing the business owners, ZCCI President Judith Nzimande congratulated them coming this far. “Whether you win tonight’s prizes or not, fact is you have learnt skills that will help you empower your business and I can’t wait to see your businesses bloom and grow”, she said.

She added that the programme the fledgling business owners have completed will assist them to develop themselves in order to be able to make profits and contribute
to the local economic development, growth and job creation.

However, she also warned them not to spend their fledgling business profits on material items such as fancy cars, but to rather re-invest it into their business to ensure further growth.

Ms Nzimande also thanked the sponsors of the competition, Boardwalk Inkwazi, Bayede Foundation, KBCC and EDTEA, judges and the mentors.

She further encouraged small business owners from around the uThungulu district to enter this year’s competition so that the can also reap the benefits.

The Zululand winners competed against the winners of seven other KZN Chambers in a provincial final in Durban in February.

Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Tel: +27 35 797 1850
http://zcci.org.za