Having built successful businesses, Feziwe Mpaku of IGBE Pty Ltd and Nqobile Valentia Veronica Mkhabela of Siyanqobangamandla Engineering Services (Pty) are now finalists in the 36th annual Business Partners Limited Entrepreneur of the Year® awards – standing tall above over 600 other entrants. Now, they’re on the brink of winning one of the nation’s highest entrepreneurial accolades.
Mpaku is contending in the Emerging Entrepreneur category, which recognises businesses operating for one to five years. IGBE Pty Ltd, or Independent Girls Business Enterprise Pty Ltd, is a 100% black woman-owned construction company providing a wide range of building and maintenance services, from brickwork and tiling to paving and roadworks. Under Mpaku’s direction, the company has emerged as a leader in promoting diversity and inclusion within the construction industry, setting a high bar in a field often dominated by other demographics.
Mkhabela is in the running for the Medium Business Entrepreneur award, celebrating those managing businesses with over R30 million in annual turnover. While her business initially concentrated on cleaning services within the mining sector, she swiftly identified the need to broaden the company’s scope to meet diverse market demands. Over the years, Siyanqobangamandla has expanded its offerings to include a comprehensive range of electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering solutions across various sectors, such as manufacturing, construction, utilities, and public services. Mkhabela attributes her success in establishing, expanding, and managing a flourishing business to her entrepreneurial acumen and leadership skills.
“Mpaku and Mkhabela’s achievements serve as a powerful reminder that female entrepreneurs can—and do—excel in sectors historically dominated by men. We hope that their stories inspire more women to enter into entrepreneurship and break even more barriers,” says David Morobe, Executive General Manager for Impact Investing at Business Partners Limited.
On Thursday, 7 November 2024, the winners in each category—including the coveted Job Creator of the Year—will be unveiled at an awards ceremony in Gauteng. One standout business owner will also claim the title of South Africa’s overall Entrepreneur of the Year®.