Season 2
The Big Break Legacy is a South African reality competition television series created by Ezra Ndwandwe and produced by Javelin which tests 12 entrepreneur contestants for character strength, creativity, aptitude and commercial savvy in addressing business challenges under time and resource constraints, with the aim of winning a R5-million investment in their company.
The series premiered on SABC2 on Thursday 2 February 2012, at 19h30. It later aired on SABC1 and CNBC (Season 2) as well. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 2 premiered on SABC2 on Saturday 17 August 2013, at 21h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 13 episodes in the second season.
Season 2 premiered on SABC1 (12h30) and CNBC (21h00) on Sunday 18 August, 2013. New episodes broadcast weekly on both channels.
The second season was won by Sanele Makinane.
Season 2
It's the reality show with one of the biggest prizes on South African television. The Big Break Legacy is back on SABC2 and Season 2's winner will walk away with a whopping R5-million investment.
This year, The Big Break Legacy went international - two episodes of the show, which culminated with the winner receiving a R5-million investment into their business, were filmed in The Netherlands and one episode in London.
There was an added boost for all South African entrepreneurs as the South Africa/Dutch alliance resulted in an entrepreneurial business exhibition hosted in Johannesburg on November 7 before the winner was revealed in the show's season finale on November 9.
This partnership – which included the Dutch Government – meant that in one of the series' challenges the South African contestants were exposed to Dutch technology, what the Dutch are doing around manufacturing technology and how they use technology to develop small businesses.
In turn, business people and entrepreneurs in The Netherlands were exposed to South African products and businesses that they may want to partner or invest in. It was all about sharing Best Operating Practice and learning from each other.
The show also headed off to London where the South African contestants were filmed completing a task.
Each week, the show's challenges tested entrepreneurs for character strength, creativity, aptitude and commercial savvy in addressing real-life business challenges under time and resource constraints.
And it wasn't all business theory and academics that got put to the test – contestants also had to have very real street-smarts in order to make it through the challenges and avoid elimination.
The show was packaged to entertain as well as educate. Both entrepreneurs and viewers learned to respond to key business requisites and witness the impact of such basics on business success and sustainability.
This year's Top 30 contestants came from across the country and their businesses were as diverse as they are. However, they had one thing in common – they were all out to win the top prize.
The youngest contestant was Mpumalanga's Tsepiso Makhubedu, who at 19 wants to head up a publishing empire. The oldest was 49-year-old Charmaine Kleynhans from Port Elizabeth who came up with an innovative kettle that is able to boil water without the need for wood, gas, coal or electricity.
Waiting to make his TV debut was Uwe Monggae from Dobsonville in Soweto who is the brains behind Mo-Mo Foods. A chef by trade, Monggae cooks up gourmet tripe and offal dishes.
Cape Town's Mpodumo Doubada of Pimp My Book assists students to manage their tight budgets by providing them with affordable used textbooks and allowing them to sell their old textbooks to use for cash.
Not only does The Big Break Legacy make for gripping television as contestants do battle to emerge as the person with the best business idea, but the programme helps combat employment by demystifying entrepreneurship and making it accessible to viewers.
The public were invited to go to Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and the official site to choose their favourite from the Top 30. Voting opened on March 8 and closed on March 13.
Top 12 Contestants
The 12 contestants doing battle were announced on 19 March, 2013. The seven men and five women – who range in age from 19 to 49 and come from around this country – had diverse business ideas but all believe that they have what it takes to be No 1.
They were:
Adele Lourens
Skoongewas
Description of business: Green launderette
Age: 31
Resides: Brakenfell, Western Cape
Currently: Operating
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness. We take every service we render very seriously, know our clients by name and employ from within the community. We aim to work with the community, clearing out the proverbial dirty laundry, from domestic violence and drug abuse to teenage pregnancies. One job at a time."
Adele had an entrepreneurial spirit from a very young age and always knew she wanted to start her own business. She qualified in tourism and health and beauty before coming across an opportunity to buy an existing laudromat business that had really been run into the ground.
Adele saw beyond the potential to grow the business and made a decision to empower members of a community who suffer from various social problems. She currently employs four women, all of whom have come from backgrounds affected by issues such as drugs and alcohol abuse.
With her viable and sustainable business plan, this mother of three wants to expand her business to become the dominating laundry in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. However she also wants to make a difference by building the community and its people.
Charmaine Kleynhans
No business name as yet
Description of business: Recycled kettles made from exhaust pipes
Age: 49
Resides: Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
Currently: Still in the concept stage
"If you believe in your concept, then just do it. Never hold on to something that doesn't produce a positive outcome – move on to new beginnings."
Charmaine's ultimate goal is to come up with a great invention that will create employment and sustain her and her family. As a keen outdoors person with extensive sales experience, Charmaine has conceptualised an innovative kettle that is able to boil water without the need for wood, gas, coal or electricity.
She believes that there are many great ideas out there that are worth exploring and putting into practice and she encourages everyone to support small emerging businesses in order to create employment, reduce crime and empower people.
Christiaan (Kris) Muller
Eminent Security Control Systems (ESCS)
Description of business: Biometric security systems
Age: 27
Resides: Durbanville, Western Cape
Currently: Operating
"With every single new experience I have learnt something new and valuable. I am a firm believer that every eventuality offers the opportunity to gain knowledge and wisdom."
This graduate in marketing and entrepreneurship has a goal to combat credit and insurance fraud in South Africa. By pushing his own creative limits, he has developed an innovative prototype system that he hopes will help millions as well as create hundreds of jobs.
Personal information can be captured and recalled via fingerprint scanning and he hopes to prevent as many fraudulent cases as possible. Funding such a massive project is a challenge but thanks to Christiaan's belief in its potential, he has spread the positive word and has a wealth of human capital assisting him in realising his dream.
Christiaan would like to be seen as a catalyst for job creation, education and financial growth in South Africa and Africa.
Ifthakaar Shaik
Green Piece
Description of business: Renewal furniture concept
Age: 24
Resides: Johannesburg, Gauteng
Currently: Still in the concept stage
"Have a reason for entering into something, know when to get in, don't be greedy and clearly define your stop loss. Perseverance and hard work can get you anything in life."
Ifthakaar is an intelligent, enterprising individual with a strong desire to succeed. His excellent communication and inter-personal skills allow him to integrate well in any social environment. He sees small business as a vital component in alleviating South Africa's unemployment pain.
His innovative and sustainable idea is centred on manufacturing renewable furniture, that is, furniture made from recyclable material. Ifthakaar sees his entrepreneurial flair as innate and believes that he has the qualities needed for success – intelligence, drive, confidence and charisma.
Jared Pillai
Million Baby
Description of business: The development of educational products for babies and young children
Age: 24
Resides: Montana, Pretoria, Gauteng
Currently: Operating
"Dream big, take the risk and never give up. Don't give up, don't let go, don't ever doubt in what you love."
This former school boy entrepreneur started seeing his own potential in business from the 7th grade and describes himself as an eccentric fast-paced marketing professional.
Being a father himself, Jared was looking for a solution to keep the children occupied, safe and comfortable in a situation where they could reach all their toys and books. The TODPOD is a simple bag to carry toys, colouring books, crayons and play dough.
The bag can quickly and easily be converted into a table and chair. The concept is trendy, fun and up-to-date and assists in engaging with toddlers and helps with in their develop.
His long-term goal is to become the biggest baby product and toy manufacturer in Africa and he plans to setup a manufacturing plant in South Africa as opposed to outsourcing the manufacturing to China.
Kelebogile Seleka
No business name as yet
Description of business: Vending machine for sanitary pads in schools
Age: 39
Resides: Galeshwe, Kimberley, Northern Cape
Currently: Still in the concept stage
"If you give your all, that is all that is needed. One can go far with that attitude".
Kelebogile has come up with the idea of installing vending machines for sanitary pads and tampons in all schools in the Northern Cape. She eventually wants to roll out the same concept across schools in the rest of South Africa, especially those in rural communities.
Her research shows that most girls lose up to four days per month of schooling because of the lack of sanitary wear during their menstrual cycle, obviously has an impact on their education. The business will expand into other areas including taxi ranks.
Ntokozo Biyela
Mzansi Mobile Units
Description of business: Manufacturing of mobile units
Age: 36
Resides: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Currently: Operating
"Proper preparation prevents poor performance. Conduct proper research of the business or industry you want to get into before getting into it."
Ntokozo is an innovative entrepreneur and believes that through his innovations, he has changed the lives of many people. His experience of working for multi-national corporates combined with an extensive knowledge of establishing a small business will stand him in good stead going forward.
His venture, Mzansi Mobile Units, was started in 2007 and manufactures mobile units such as mobile fridges, mobile kitchens, mobile VIP toilets, mobile bars, mobile butcheries, mobile clinics, mobile salons, mobile spaza shops and custom made trailer units.
His goal is to grow the business into the leading mobile trailer unit company in Africa and the company already has a presence in Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, DRC and Mauritius. It is estimated that for every unit sold, three jobs are created.
Sanele Makinane
Apex Commercial Solutions
Description of business: Mzanzi Digital - Digitalising South Africa
Age: 22
Resides: Klerksdorp, North West
Currently: Still in the concept stage
"Dream big, start small. Lay a firm foundation for growth to manage its own growth. Spare time in knowing your business before appointing others to do work for you. Master all the tasks."
Sanele is a free spirited young man with strong business acumen and intellectual capacity.
Through an initiative called Mzanzi Digital, Sanele's goal is to create participation by previously disadvantaged communities in the development of ICT in the municipality, the district, provincially and ultimately nationally.
Apex Commercial Solutions is a company established by young people from the City of Matlosana who have studied various courses and have merged to create a company that houses all their expertise, knowledge and abilities in information communications technology, marketing, public relations, project management and multimedia management.
Teboho Mafodi
TM Group
Description of business: Alternative green building material for homes in rural areas
Age: 28
Resides: Benoni, Gauteng
Currently: Operating
"To start a business you need to have the heart, if not the passion for it. The thought of starting or running your business needs to drive you."
Teboho, a graduate in entrepreneurship and a respectable businessman, wanted create a building technology that was inexpensive and fast to assemble and came up with an alternative construction technology called SIPS – Structure Insolated Panels.
With this technology, bricks and cement make way for timber and polystyrene and present an environmentally friendly and energy efficient method of construction. His goal is to grow the business to employ thousands of people thus adding to economic growth in South Africa.
The homes built will also be more affordable.
Tebogo holds a host of entrepreneurship award nominations including a nomination for the Future 100 Top Young Entrepreneurs in SA and was also nominated as one of the 100 Brightest Young Minds in SA.
Thati Mashao
Moruleng Construction Plant and Tool Hire
Description of business: Heavy duty earth moving equipment and plant hire
Age: 28
Resides: Polokwane, Limpopo
Currently: Operating
"Entrepreneurs should take that first step be it resigning from a 9 to 5 job, start draughting a business plan or to start looking for funding. The point is that one eventually has to start."
Thati is mother to a five-year-old boy. She also has a passion for the construction industry. She took a leap of faith in 2011 and left a good construction job to start Moruleng Construction Plant and Tool Hire after seeing a gap in the market to hire out tools and equipment.
She hopes to expand the business, purchase more equipment and meet the demand for her offering. She believes that starting a business is a matter of life or death and that the economy depends on entrepreneurs for growth and the reduction of unemployment levels.
Tsepiso Makhubedu
Royal-T Books
Description of business: Publishing company of entrepreneurial books for children
Age: 19
Resides: Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
Currently: Operating
"Many people, specifically the youth, have the ambition and drive to begin entrepreneurial ventures but not the necessary skills of entrepreneurship and financial literacy to back it up and make a success of it."
Tsepiso and business partner Comfort Dhlamini started a publishing company with the aim of providing books that will equip children with entrepreneurial and financial literacy skills so that when they become adults, these skills are well developed. The range of books is called The Fairytale of Billionaire Bees.
Tsepiso strongly believes that entrepreneurship should be included in the curriculum at schools.
Zama Sibinda
Project It (Night Billboard)
Description of business: Laser projection advertising
Age: 21
Resides: Bloemfontein, Free State
Currently: Still in the concept stage
"I have a desire to do things better and improve things in an innovative way."
Zama runs a marketing innovation consulting business and the Night Billboard is one of its products. The concept is of a billboard that can be seen from every view in a particular city where it is displayed. This billboard will be reflected towards the sky using a laser hologram projector and will only work at night.
Through his company, Zama intends to assist creative South Africans with research and development.
He hopes that his billboard will attract investors into South Africa as well as being used to display important messages such as those on HIV/Aids.
Zama describes himself as a visionary and a business driven individual with great leadership qualities.
Other Finalists
The rest of the Top 30 finalists who did not make the cut for the Top 12 were:
Bongani Mazibuko
Edu_Tainer
Description of business: Information computing and teaching, computer library
Age: 35
Resides: Hammarsdale, KwaZulu Natal
Currently: Still in the concept stage
"Starting a small business is not for the faint hearted and it takes hard work, perseverance and a lot of faith. Surround yourself with the right people. Put your ideas in writing, do thorough research and do your maths. If you are impressed, than start approaching investors."
It is safe to say that Bongani has a great formula. He has combined his attention to detail, his ambition, huge dreams (that were often knocked or ignored) and has used his knowledge and skill gained over many years to prepare him for the creation and launch of Edu_Tainer, a software application designed to improve performance in literacy, mathematics and science while embracing the advancement of technology.
This application will have a dashboard that highlights the learner's performance and is also an information source for the parent.
This self-starter thrives on his analytical instinct to come up with solutions in challenging situations. His positive energy and optimistic outlook create lasting impressions on all those he deals with.
Brian Mawdsley
Future Power Solutions
Description of business: Alternative power unit - turbine wind power
Age: 36
Resides: Cape Town, Western Cape
Currently: Operating
"If every small business in SA hired one person we would end unemployment in a day. So it is critical to grow small businesses".
With a background in IT and technology, Brian's goal is to be top of his game and, with his vertical wind turbines, aims to become the number one manufacturer and distributor of alternative energy generators in Africa.
Job creation, social impact, sustainability and commercial viability are all driving factors in Brian's quest to take this product to market.
Brian is constantly engaging with people and considers himself to be charismatic and someone who makes a good first impression. His confident, compassionate and ambitious approach, together with a keen interest in innovation, enables him to set his mind towards systematically achieving his goals.
Gift Nkuna
The Superpreneur Board Game
Description of business: Board game for school children to learn about entrepreneurship
Age: 36
Resides: Midrand, Gauteng
Currently: Operating
"I believe that the one thing that will reduce the rate of unemployment and contribute positively towards the growth of our country's economy is not the increase in the number of people involved in business but a change in attitude of those who are currently owning and running businesses."
Gift is a solutions driven individual and aims to demystify the entrepreneurial practices and processes with the Superprenuer, an experiential learning and growth training programme that is presented as an innovative board game. The game simulates real life business opportunities and challenges.
Gift understands that running a business is a 24/7 obligation and his business is inspired by his passion for personal performance, his desire to motivate others and have an impact on the nation in a positive manner.
His business model hopes to create around 75 jobs and is capable of expanding into international markets.
Ismail Hassen
CSR-Africa Tank Repairs
Description of business: Manufacture of bitumen box containers
Age: 32
Location: Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
Currently: Operating
"The business world is unforgiving, in the real world cash is king and businesses can't operate without proper financial controls in place."
Ismail is a project engineer who is a true entrepreneur and is open minded to business opportunities. He has minimised his risk by developing business models to focus on opportunity.
He likes to inspire businessmen/entrepreneurs to manage the business or take the gap. Through his strategic thinking approach he has positioned himself to move any business within a niche area.
CSR Africa focuses on the modification, repairs and refurbishment of ISO tank containers. In 2012 he developed and manufactured a special purpose bulk bitumen box container (Bitu-Box) to transport 27 000lt of bitumen.
This innovative design has positioned the company to be the first manufacturer of bitumen tanks within South Africa. Ismail wishes to implement a growth plan for CSR-Africa to launch two more products (specialised containers) within the next five years.
Joel Makitla
Black Crystal Auto-Bikes
Description of business: Motor bike dealership in townships
Age: 40
Resides: Roodepoort West, Gauteng
Currently: Still in the concept stage
"In my short life as an entrepreneur, I have learnt that perseverance is indeed the mother of success, and it's not a cliché."
Family man Joel is an innovative and persistent entrepreneur yet he has enough patience to understand that hard work, coupled with knowledge and strategic relations and focus, produces positive results.
His dream is to turn his hobby into something he loves business wise and with eight years already in the planning, he wishes to open the first-ever mega-motorcycle dealership in Soweto and roll it out to other townships throughout South Africa.
He sees small business as an integral part of the creation of jobs and a contribution to economic growth in South Africa. He also sees the benefit of marketing and selling motorcycles in terms of affordability and reducing congestion on South African roads.
Kabelo Khaas
KNA Pipes and Fittings
Description of business: Manufacture of duct iron pipes
Age: 31
Resides: Boksburg, Gauteng
Currently: Still in the concept stage
"The reasons for starting your own business must go beyond making a profit to be truly successful. Leave a legacy through social impact by creating employment and participate in community development programmes."
Kabelo has many years of experience in the supply of pipes of different solutions to the water sector and mining houses. This experience played a large role in generating his current idea.
KNA is a concept of a ductile iron pipe trading company, with value added services of cement mortar lining to the product for corrosion protection. These ductile iron pipes are built for drinking water, waste water, mining and irrigation systems.
With qualifications in project management, marketing and business administration, Kabelo aims to create employment for at least 150 people and appreciates that most big business today started off small and now employ thousands.
Lebogang Jood
The Green Cut
Description of business: Bio-fuel – manufacturing energy from sugar cane and waste
Age: 23
Resides: Johannesburg, Gauteng; originally from Kuruman
Currently: Operating
"Ambition is priceless and timing is everything."
Lebogang is an introverted thinker yet holds elements of self-belief, perseverance and focus, the things that are needed to start a new business.
The Green Cut is a sustainable development project primarily focusing on socio-economic development in rural and remote markets. The idea started at the National Science Expo in 2006 and through extensive research and elements of creativity, the concept is commercially viable.
The company produces bio-fuel using waste crops. It also explores the prospect of producing cellulosic bio-fuel using non-food plants as a precautionary measure to Africa's food security.
Mphathisi Colwana
Ma-Jola's Agricultural and Retail Enterprise
Description of business: Fruit and veg retail outlet in rural areas
Age: 28
Resides: Pretoria, Gauteng
Currently: Still in the concept stage
"Small businesses bring growth and innovation to their communities; they provide employment and opportunities to people thus stimulating economic growth."
Inspired by Mphathisi's late father, Ma-Jola Agricultural and Retail Enterprise will compromise of crop growing (vegetables and fruits), packaging and household retailing products.
It will provide employment opportunities and will help communities with their travelling costs, by accessibility and easy methods of purchase within the region thereby saving them on transport costs.
Mpodumo Doubada
Pimp My Book
Description of business: Text books and second hand books stores for students
Age: 26
Resides: Cape Town, Western Cape
Currently: Operating
"I have learnt the hard way that coming up with an idea and starting a business is very different from running and growing a successful business. Starting a business takes guts and conviction, but running a successful business takes wisdom, intelligence, perseverance and plain simple luck."
Limpopo-born Mpodumo had an idea to resell textbooks back in 2006 when he was studying at the University of Cape Town.
Pimp My Book assists students to manage their tight budgets by providing them with affordable used textbooks and allowing them to sell their old textbooks to use for cash.
Through this they are building a sustainable business that is assisting students to afford books, creating job opportunities for youth and saving the environment through the re-using of textbooks. Pimp My Book uses physical stores, mobile "caravan" stores and on-line stores to ensure that it is easy for students to sell and buy books.
Mpodumo hopes to expand the business into other regions across South Africa.
Nathi Mbele
AdNotes
Description of business: Mobile and notepad media company
Age: 27
Resides: Cape Town, Western Cape
Currently: Operating
"I am natural born strategist, an entrepreneur in a context of creating business and enterprising projects that make a positive impact to the triple bottom-line; good impact to people, sustainable profits for business growth and good impact to the environment."
AdNotes was started by Nathi in 2009 and is a media company that offers national and international brands the opportunity to advertise directly to the student market via notebooks and mobile media.
In response to identifying a gap in the market, AdNotes further gives brands the opportunity to reach the greater African market via creative mediums like digital space (on board entertainment), engaging promotions and activations.
Nathi is all about connecting with the right people and networking as well as "word of mouth" marketing.
Nuraan Alli
Greenovate Solutions
Description of business: Green alternative for dry cleaning - wet dry cleaning
Age: 36
Resides: Sandton, Gauteng
Currently: Operating
"If you think about it, dream about it, speak about it and write about it, just do it."
Nuraan is a passionate, committed and driven women entrepreneur. She is a self-starter who has, under trying circumstances, pursued her dream to be a business owner and to be the best South African woman entrepreneur she can be by making a difference to people and the planet.
She has secured the rights to sell and market the only eco friendly wet-cleaning solution, called Lagoon, which is an alternative to the toxic dry cleaning/laundry industry. It is the first ever water based system approved and endorsed by the world's leading wool textile authority, the Woolmark Company, which hailed it as a technological breakthrough in the professional care of garments labelled as "dry clean only".
Philippe Kalkwarf
Quick Response Technology Solutions
Description of business: Patient data recording system
Age: 40
Resides: Fourways, Gauteng
Currently: Operating
"The most important lesson I have learned in life is that every stone needs to be turned. Opportunities exist where you least expect them. And if you take the time to explore and dig where most others fear to go, you will discover a world of opportunities."
Philippe is an outgoing, enthusiastic, outdoors person who enjoys challenges and asserting his mind to different business opportunities. His father planted the entrepreneurial seed and he has started and owned a number of companies, all of which required a hands-on approach of getting up and running.
The Patient Data Recording System is designed to store patient medical records in a global cloud. These records can be accessed in a number of ways including by computer, cellular telephone or hand held PDAs.
Having reliable up-to-date patient data available wherever the patient is will improve the South African health care delivery system. The social impact will be immeasurable.
Rudzani Thangoane
Tshanduko Ready-Mix Concrete
Description of business: Ready mix concrete and cement
Age: 23
Resides: Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal
Currently: Still in the concept stage
"Never start a small business as an alternative to not being able to get a job or because you like slacking or waking up late or have a plan B in case it fails, they will fail - guaranteed!"
His idea for his business came after Rudzani identified a gap in the ready-mix concrete industry.
Countrywide, companies in this industry are focused on supplying to large enterprises, thereby failing to effectively service the needs of smaller consumers.
Their business models rely mainly on bigger projects such as construction of sports stadia, large shopping malls and main road construction. Great demand still exists for an efficient and a more customer focused ready-mix service that caters for the smaller market which is what he aims to do through Tshando Ready-Mix Concrete.
Seitebogeng Nkitseng
African Sun Free Range Poultry
Description of business: Organic egg and poultry farming
Age: 29
Resides: Mahikeng, North West
Currently: Still in the concept stage
"Entrepreneurs must break the circle of dependency on government for business and actually start trading as you only get better at something by actually doing it."
Seitebogeng is a strong willed, efficient and determined entrepreneur and is not a person who remains on the side-line, particularly with her passion for empowerment. She says she thrives when it comes to challenges.
Seitebogeng is planning to build a sustainable free range poultry business and should she win, wants to turn the R5 million prize money into R500-million by investing the money in acquiring a farm for breeding, rearing and egg production of free range chickens.
Organic chickens are known for not containing any artificial ingredients or preservatives and being minimally processed. The chickens will be raised in environmentally friendly conditions. Producing free range chickens responds to current market demands for healthier, natural and tasty products.
Siyabonga Kubheka
Amadwala Ice
Description of business: Manufacturing and distribution of ice
Age: 39
Resides: Umlazi, Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal
Currently: Operating
"The lesson I have learnt is that my worst enemy is me and if I am able to conquer my fears I can achieve all that I set myself to achieve. In business you have to push even if all looks lost because time is one resource we don't have an abundance of."
Durban-based entrepreneur Siyabonga started his business in 2004 after purchasing a second hand ice machine. His plans for the business are to implement his strategic new business model and grow the business in order to create employment. Currently the bigger suppliers don't have the reach into smaller areas and Siyabonga hopes to fill this gap in the market.
Siyabonga is innovative, driven and hardworking and believes that dedication and hard work are just two of the things needed to be successful.
Thabsile Ranape
Fresh4U
Description of business: Salads and fresh foods
Age: 46
Resides: eMalahleni, Mpumulanga
Currently: Operating
"The characteristics of successful business people are that they are hardworking, technically proficient and competent in management, achievement driven and seek independence."
Thabsile bought Fresh4U as a going concern in 2006. The business supplies salads, platters, soups and meals to a number of Spar stores in Mpumulanga and Gauteng. It is a 100 percent female owned entity employing 13 staff.
Her goal is to grow the business to a national and international level, thus creating employment and growing the South African economy.
Thabsile is hard working and driven by achievement and success and gains pleasure from seeing a project through from beginning to end.
Thembelihle Tolman
MK Metals
Description of business: Scrap metal recycling business
Age: 31
Resides: Ogies, Mpumalanga
Currently: Operating
"Business development and growth is dependent on steady streams of entrepreneurs to drive new business creation and to provide much needed employment for the youth of South Africa."
Thembelihle has the dedication, determination and drive of a true entrepreneur. In 2003 she started MK Metals, a scrap metals recycling, reclamation and processing company. She is currently one of three business partners and employs 10 permanent staff.
Her goal is to expand the operation and also buy the property from which the business is currently operating from.
This mother of three describes herself as an independent woman who is persistent and is driven by success.
Uwe Monggae
Mo-Mo Foods
Description of business: Tripe manufacture
Age: 28
Resides: Dobsonville, Soweto, Gauteng
Currently: Operating
"Whatever you need is inside of you. As a baby in your mother's tummy, everything was provided for; eye colour, height, gender etc. Don't think for a moment that now you 'will' be needy. Look inside of you because it is there."
Mo-Mo Foods is a speciality gourmet food processing company that was first piloted in 2009, and then opened its doors for business in late 2012. Uwe, a chef by trade, developed their niche product, which is African cuisine focusing on offal.
The offal is cooked and sold as ready-made delicacies to certain niche markets, including the middle-class LSM 6 and higher. Uwe hopes to expand the business nationally and eventually have international partners.
Raised in Soweto, Uwe became involved in a gang but gave it up to study and now considers himself a strong-minded entrepreneur.
About the Show
The Big Break Legacy intends to identify, build competence and empower entrepreneurs to venture into creating new industries in a sustainable manner.
Conceptualised by businessman and entrepreneur Ezra Ndwandwe, the show is aimed at both existing ventures that need re-capitalisation for growth as well as high impact business ideas requiring start-up capital.
The Big Break Legacy aims to start a global revolution of entrepreneurs that build new enterprises which are innovative, exciting, sustainable and, most importantly, contribute meaningfully towards the social development of communities.
The Big Break will test entrepreneurs for character strength, creativity, aptitude and commercial savvy in addressing business challenges under time and resource constraints.
The show is packaged to entertain in a way that will educate the entrepreneurs and the viewers on responding to key business requisites and the impact of such basics on business success and sustainability.
The Big Break is an interactive show, and viewers will be given an opportunity to vote for who they believe has the composite of a successful entrepreneur.
Twelve contestants have to prove their entrepreneurial flair through various business challenges, over a 13-episode season.
And it's not all business theory and academics that get put to the test - contestants will have to have very real street-smarts in order to make it through the challenges.
It's a tough, dramatic, entertaining and very real business journey, as well as being a rewarding one.
The winner of The Big Break Legacy wins a R5-million investment into their business.
Winners
Season 1: Graham Rowe
Season 2: Sanele Makinane
Seasons
Season 1 (13 episodes)
Channel: SABC2 | Premiere: 2 Feb 2012 | Finale: 26 Apr 2012 | Thu, 19h30
Season 2 (13 episodes)
Channel: SABC2 | Premiere: 17 Aug 2013 | Finale: 9 Nov 2013 | Sat, 21h00
Channel: SABC1 | Premiere: 18 Aug 2013 | Finale: 10 Nov 2013 | Sun, 12h30
Channel: CNBC | Premiere: 18 Aug 2013 | Finale: 10 Nov 2013 | Sun, 21h00