All The High-Impact Entrepreneurs Chosen For The 2018 National Gazelles Programme

Posted on December 11th, 2017
Entrepreneurs
Katherine-Mary founder of Pichulik

The second cohort of the Top 40 National Gazelles was recently announced.

Now in its second year, the National Gazelles is an initiative of the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA).

It was launched in 2015 as a programme aimed at propelling the selected top 40 high growth SMEs to the next level through multiple interventions. The SMEs that have been in business for two or more years, employing two or more people and turning over R1 million per annum qualify to apply to be part of the programme.

The businesses will be in the programme for the next three years and will receive a number of strategic interventions tailored for each of them.

The interventions are expected to put these SMEs on a high growth path which is intended to make them efficient and more sustainable, and in the process grow revenues and increase employment.

Who Are They?
The selected second cohort of Top 40 Gazelles comprise of SMEs from seven provinces: Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Kwa-Zulu Natal have 8 SMEs, Gauteng 7, North West 6, Free State 2 and Limpopo 1.
The manufacturing sector is the dominant sector with 21 businesses in this cohort and 35% are owned by women. 70% of the selected businesses are black-owned.

The Selection Process
The 331 applications were received during the window period between 18 October 2016 and 22 November 2016, and were first shortlisted to Top 200 based on online scores which were done by Ernest & Young and Sekela Xabiso audit firms.

This was followed by panel interviews comprised of role players from various agencies including Seda, SEFA, IDC, Productivity SA and NEF in the enterprise development. The list of the finalists was then formulated into the Top 40 Gazelles and an independent audit verification of the selection was conducted by Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo.

Acceleration Services
The Department has approved Gazelles Growth Grant applications for 30 SMEs worth R15.9 million of which R8.1 million has been paid to 30 suppliers to 14 SMEs for various services rendered to these businesses.

Results of the Inaugural Programme
The inaugural Top National Gazelles have performed as follows: 68% (26) SMEs increased their business performance by 17% resulting in R30m increase business value, 45% (17) SMEs have now 10% more cash flow, 71% (27) SMEs increase their growth potential by 17%, and 37% (14) de-risked their business making them less dependent on one employee or a group of customers.

The programmes first group continues to receive support within the first year, having mainly focused on Gazelles Growth Grant allocation by the Department of Small Business Development and the second year focussing on growth and acceleration.

Find out who was chosen – Here is the full National Gazelles 2018 list: 
Eastern Cape

1. Anax Logistics (Logistics)
Anax Logistics was established in 2007 as an enterprise development company providing non-core services to MBSA. Anax. With diverse expertise in the logistics, warehousing and the automotive sectors, Anax Logistics’ key clients include MBSA EL and Total SA and major transport customers.

2. Dynafoam Converters (Supply and Demand)
Established and commissioned IN early 2011 and centrally based in the EC Automotive hub, DynaFoam Converters (Pty) Ltd produces high quality foam and rubber components sourced locally and worldwide. Typical industrial sectors that have a variety of applications for their products are the automotive and allied industry, air-conditioning, refrigeration, construction, sports and leisure, general engineering, the marine industry, agriculture and various sectors in the spectrum of the economy.

3. Jelani Group (Engineering and Construction)
Jelani Group Pty Ltd was conceived in the Eastern Cape as early as 2010. It services the engineering and construction sector.

4. LBN Hygiene Services (Manufacturing)
LBN Hygiene Solutions is a cleaning detergent manufacturer based in Walmer, Port Elizabeth. They supply a wide-range of cleaning detergents and cleaning materials throughout the Eastern Cape and also provide cleaning services.

5. Ludwe Consulting (Property)
Ludwe Consulting is a 100% black female-owned Eastern Cape based company focussing on property development.

6. Ntlantsana Accountants and Auditors (Finance)
Ntlantsana Accountants and Auditors is an accounting and auditing firm. It is also one of the only finance companies which offers accounting services in vernacular languages such as Nguni languages (isiXhosa, isiZulu, isiNdebele and siSwati) as well as other South African indigenous languages like Sesotho, Setswana and others.

7. 469 Enterprises (Hospitality)
469 Enterprises is a service, hospitality and trading holding company that operates in multifaceted and complementary industries in the “Township Economy Space”.

8. RV Footwear (Manufacturer)
RV Footwear is a fully-fledged footwear manufacturer, creating a full range of ladies, men’s and children’s slippers, sandals, and school shoes. RV Footwear was established as a female partnership between sisters Roxane Titus and Vida-Ann Smith in 2013 to continue the family legacy of shoe-making.

Free State

9. Icalc Training Academy (Education)
iCALC Training Academy is a registered and accredited Private TVET college.

10. Woodview Wagyu Beef (Farming)
The Angus family are devoted to the traditional farming methods that they have practised since 1916. They brought the first Wagyu cattle to South Africa – all of their full blood animals can be traced back to the founding stock in Japan and Scotland – and are the leading producers of Wagyu in Africa.

Gauteng

11. Dirang Mmogo Business Enterprise (Environment)
Dirang Mmogo Business Enterprise (DMBE) is a specialist environmental company, established for the purpose of providing a holistic environmental management service to public and private sector clients, including development agencies involved in infrastructure development in Southern Africa since 2003.

12. E-Commerce Marketing (Travel and Tourism)
E-Com is a digital marketing company with its core focus in the travel and tourism industry.

13. Ikim Solutions (Manufacturing)
Ikim Solutions is a wholly black-owned company which manufacturers household cleaning chemicals, but is also a marketer and distributor of water purification and water treatment chemicals.

14. Masana Dieticians (Medical)
Masana Dieticians is a specialist indigenous South African company that focusses on comprehensive holistic client solutions. their solutions include food manufacturing and supply, accredited training programmes, employee wellness programmes and facilities hygiene supply and management and associated FMCG supplies.

15. Jen-Til Touch (Cosmetics Manufacturing)
Jen-Til Touch was developed by Sister Jenny to improve the quality of life for people with pain or disability and to improve the comfort of the skin, especially in diabetics and people suffering from eczema and wounds that won’t heal, and people with very dry skin.

16. Pandors Designs (Manufacturing)
Pandors Designs is an established, family-owned furniture manufacturing company.

17. Pichulik (Design)
Pichulik is an award-winning African brand, that innovates in quality handcrafted jewellery and accessories out of local manufactured rope and African materials.

18. Reba Chemicals (Manufacturing)
Reba Chemicals was formed with the purpose of manufacturing imported chemicals locally in South Africa. They specialise in producing solutions for, but not limited to, the production and metal industries in South Africa and some regions of Africa.

19. Portia M Skin Solutions (Cosmetics Manufacturing)
Portia M is a privately black-owned, led and managed, Johannesburg-based skincare and cosmetics company which was established in 2011.

20. Siyasizana Shuttle Services (Transport and Tourism)
Siyasizana Shuttle Services (Pty) Ltd is a 100% black-owned company that primarily operates in corporate shuttle and tourism sectors.

21. Solve Direct Electronics (Education)
In 2014, Neil Johnson started Solve Direct Electronics as a 100% black-owned (40% black women) business operating from Saab Grintek Defence’s premises in Highveld Techno Park, Centurion, with access to its security and high-tech facilities and equipment. Their primary business is providing training and certification on behalf of IPC.

Kwa-Zulu Natal

22. Chemweb (Manufacturing)
Chemweb’s core business is the manufacturing of effective cleaning products that minimize harmful bacteria in the public places and provide solutions to household cleaning problems.

23. Chemsol Adhesives (Manufacturing)
Chemsol Adhesives is a South African company in the chemical and plastics manufacturing sector.

24. Divine Juice (Manufacturing)
Divine Juice Company is a 100% black-owned company that produces fruit juice for the market of KZN.

25. Inkwa Environmental Services (Supply Chain)
Inkwa Environmental Services is a waste management company based in Durban. The Level 1 B-BBEE rated (50% black, women-owned) company operates throughout KZN, specialising in liquid and solid waste management, industrial cleaning, tank cleaning, high-pressure jetting, asbestos and sewerage removal.

26. Isandiso Holdings (Construction)
Isandiso Holdings is a diversified construction company that specialises in the manufacturing and installation of HDPE, GRP, PVC Piping and Fittings for transportation of water and products in the following industries: Mining, chemical plants, power stations, agriculture, construction sites and water reticulation.

27. LAB24 (Medical)
Established by medical technologist Ishara Ramparsad, Lab24 provides cost-effective pathology tests.

28. Sense Of Nambitha (Research)
Sense of Nambitha provides qualitative and quantitative consumer sensory research to food and beverage manufacturers allowing them to provide products that consumers want and desire.

29. TS Cibane Consulting (Legal)
TS Cibane Consulting CC was formed in January 2009 and officially registered in May 2009, and assists with mining and production license applications, social and labour plan implementation and compliance reports compilation services to individuals.

North West

30. Barui-Driehoek Farm (Agriculture)
Driehoek Farm lies approximately 80km south-west of Vryburg. The business is a cooperative with five, full-time farmers.

31. Boga Legaba Guest House & Conference Centre (Tourism and Hospitality)
Legaba Guest House & Conference Centre is a four-star graded establishment based in Mahikeng, North West and situated in the leafy suburb of Riviera Park. Boga Legaba also own the Odds and Ends Kofi Bar and Flawa Shop based in Mahikeng.

32. Bricks Galore (Manufacturing and Construction)
Bricks Galore is located in the town of Taung. The company manufactures bricks for hardware stores, RDP house contractors and the local communities.

33. Kagisano Waters And Sanitation (Supply Chain)
Kagisano Waters and Sanitation is a company based in the Molopo Local Municipality in the North West focussing on general water construction and sanitation services.

Western Cape

34. Bikes ‘N Wines (Tourism)
Bikes ‘n Wines is a bicycle tour operator, cycle boutique and café in the heart of Downtown Cape Town.

35. Compliance Online (Training)
Whether it is e-learning, workshops or compliance monitoring tools, Compliance Online helps businesses to mitigate the magnitude of risks.

36. Braaibricks For Africa (Manufacturing)
Braaibricks for Africa, which is owned and managed by Peter Reinstorf and Dulcey Mjekula,was opened in August 2008. Today it manufactures charcoal and briquettes and packs under contract for Safari Vervaardiging CC.

37. Inno Networks (ICT)
Innovo Networks is a high touch business focussed on voice, data and cloud that provides businesses with a variety of on-site and remote solutions to maintain systems, and do so in a cost-effective way.

38. Machman (Engineering Solutions)
MachMan is a young and vibrant company offering the specialised services of machine maintenance, installation and manufacturing.

39. Safari Vervaardiging (Manufacturing)
Safari Vervaardiging is a family-owned company situated in George in the Western Cape, South Africa. They provide a wide range of quality braai and barbeque merchandise such as firelighters, charcoal, briquettes, firewood, braai equipment and outdoor related products.

40. Washtub Industrial Services (Supply and Demand)
Washtub Industrial Laundry Service specialises in providing comprehensive, agile and pristine laundry, linen and workwear management solutions to the healthcare, hospitality and manufacturing industries.