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Winners of South Africa's Step Up 2 a Start Up II named

3 December 2015

The top three winning teams from around the country from the Step Up 2 a Start Up II initiative were announced on 1 December at a glamorous awards evening in Joburg.

Taking the top spot:

Ribane Laka High School, Gauteng
Business: Fash-Tag – new age name-tags, an instrument to break down communication barriers
Team members: Anna Mathiba Machaka and Precious Masetla

In second place:

Masibambane Secondary, Western Cape
Business: Ketcha-Fire – a product to be installed in townships to prevent fires
Team members: Ennieter Ndlovu, Sindiswa Eleki, Phumeza Xuza

In third place:

Leap Science & Maths School, Gauteng
Business: Witraco – a mobile application that connects commuters and taxi drivers
Team members: Lerato Ranamane and Omphile Senkwete

First awards of the evening presented by Vivian William of Regenesys Business School. #StepUp2AStartUp pic.twitter.com/0dHylK1fW5

— Brand South Africa (@Brand_SA) December 1, 2015

In the competition, the students had to adhere to the credo: "Design it, make it, sell it."

Facilitated by PrimeStars Marketing and endorsed by Proudly South African, the Step Up 2 a Start Up II initiative celebrates youth entrepreneurship. It is sponsored by the National Youth Development Agency, Brand South Africa, Absa, MTN, Sasol, Putco, and others.

#StepUp2StartUp is about #BuildingIdeas #BuildingDreams @PrimestarsMarke @3M pic.twitter.com/Gr7MvSjpHR

— Brand South Africa (@Brand_SA) December 1, 2015

"The Step Up 2 a Start Up programme aligns perfectly with Brand South Africa's Play Your Part initiative, as it encourages young people to contribute to community development through entrepreneurship," explained Sithembile Ntombela, Brand South Africa's general manager for marketing.

"Programmes such as Step Up 2 a Start Up ensure that young people can play their part in achieving the goals of the National Development Plan (NDP), which envisages a socio-economically transformed South Africa.

"Young South Africans armed with education, skills and motivation, facilitated by programmes such as Step Up 2 a Start Up, will be critical to the success of the NDP. By playing their part, the youth contribute to a better South Africa for all," said Ntombela.

The process

The competition consisted of three phases, and students began developing their business skills in August:

• The production and screening of an educational film;
• Learners receiving an Entrepreneurs and Makers Tool Kit;
• A National Maker Competition, Makers Boot Camp and finally, the Awards Ceremony.

See what the students had to say about it:

The awards

Martin Sweet, the managing director of Primestars Marketing, congratulated the successful teams on the night.

"I don't think there has been another event this year with so many sponsors," he said. "Today I take my hat off to the Step Up 2 a Start Up finalists who are here with their educators from the far reaches of the country."

Sweet hoped the process would be the start of a journey for learners to ignite their entrepreneurial passions and hone their business skills.

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Buthi Manamela and Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu delivered key note addresses on the night. Their message was clear: South Africa needed more job creators instead of job seekers.

Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises Lindiwe Zulu has given our guests of honour some important words of wisdom. pic.twitter.com/JMwYlKgKBk

— Brand South Africa (@Brand_SA) December 1, 2015

Musicians such as Khanyo, Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, Diversity, and The Gudfella entertained the audience.

SouthAfrica.info reporter