Four standout entrepreneurs in South Africa’s manufacturing industry—covering everything from patio furniture to spacecraft parts—are in the spotlight as finalists in the 36th annual Business Partners Limited Entrepreneur of the Year® awards. Beating out over 600 other entrants, Trudy Maleka, Thamaga Hamlet Chaane, Muhammad Afzal, and James Barrington-Brown are now in the running for the ultimate entrepreneurial prize.
Maleka is a finalist in the Emerging Entrepreneur category, honouring those in business for one to five years. Her company, Ambesha Africa, is a proudly South African manufacturer and repairer of sustainable, custom-made patio furniture. Since its founding in 2016, the business has enjoyed a seven-fold increase in its employee count and has expanded its operations from a 6m container to a 500m2 workshop, with plans for future development. Believing she has what it takes to win, Maleka points to her ability to adjust her business in response to challenges, her resilience, and her role as a mentor and inspiration for aspiring women entrepreneurs.
Vying for recognition in the Small Business Entrepreneur category, which celebrates those overseeing businesses with an annual turnover of up to R30 million, is Chaane. Founded in 1987, his company, Atlas Paints, has specialised in producing a variety of paints for decorative applications, road markings, and roofing. Today, the business has established a strong and growing export presence in countries such as Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Burundi, and Rwanda.
Competing in the Medium Business Entrepreneur category, which recognises those leading businesses with annual revenues exceeding R30 million, are Afzal and Barrington-Brown.
As the CEO of Univission Technology, Afzal has transformed his Pinetown-based venture from a small granny flat operation into an industrial powerhouse, providing PVC and plastic products to the construction and agriculture sectors. With six factories now running, the company’s success is rooted in its capacity to adapt solutions to market needs, foster continuous innovation, and drive significant growth. At the same time the business positively impacts the community via initiatives that enhance local education and skills development, particularly in technology and engineering.
Recognising a gap in the market back in 2013, Barrington-Brown founded NewSpace Systems, a cost-effective space component manufacturing and design firm dedicated to supplying components to global space programmes. Now, eleven years on, the company boasts exports to over 33 countries across six continents and is focused on further expanding its market share. While the company faced challenges in its early days, Barrington-Brown’s vision and persistence soon propelled the business to become a fast-growing, internationally recognised supplier of space components.
“These finalists are not just entrepreneurs; they are innovators propelling the manufacturing sector forward and making significant contributions to economic growth. Their success reflects the potential of our manufacturing industry and the talent within our borders,” 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®.