Ten years ago, in March 2015, Kasi Business Workshop was born out of a simple yet powerful idea, to create an inclusive space where township entrepreneurs could be seen, heard and supported.
Shortly after, on 15 July 2015, the very first Kasi Business Workshop was held in a local community hall in Tembisa.
What began as a bold dream by entrepreneur and township advocate Bulelani Balabala, has since grown into a national force of transformation and a blueprint for township economic inclusion.
The Kasi Business Workshops have directly impacted over 100 000+ township entrepreneurs in South Africa who contribute to the creation of over 400 000+ jobs. This workshop program has also gone global with attendee participation from countries such as: Australia, Zambia, United Kingdom, United States, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho, to name a few.
The Kasi Business Workshops’ global footprint spans 34 countries.
The Kasi Business Workshop is more than a business event, it is a full-day experience of connection, collaboration and growth. Rooted deeply in the spirit of ubuntu and entrepreneurial resilience, it has become a dynamic catalyst for real change in township economies across South Africa.
Through proximity and shared purpose, the workshop has united thousands of township entrepreneurs, with over 68% of attendees going on to do business with each other.
Over the past 10 years, TEA has:
- Developed 467+ local black youth-owned business suppliers.
- Created 3 321+ youth job opportunities.
- A national footprint, with 124 townships and rural communities impacted.
Key Programme Pillars that Power the Movement
1. Kasi Pitching Challenge
The Kasi Pitching Challenge launched in 2022 in Daveyton. The Kasi Pitching Challenge is a powerful platform where township entrepreneurs get the opportunity to pitch for R50 000 in both cash and business support.
To date, the challenge has:
- Distributed over R2.5 million in direct funding.
- Empowered 40 township business winners.
- Received over 2030+ entries.
Spotlighted 216+ township business finalists.
- Been hosted in 36 communities across the country.
The Kasi Pitching Challenge has since completed two impactful seasons, each one amplifying the voices and ventures of township entrepreneurs across South Africa. Now in its third season, the journey continues with even greater purpose, scale and reach.
About Season 3 of the Kasi Pitching Challenge 2025-2026:
As the country commemorates Mandela Month, the 37th edition of the Kasi Pitching Challenge is breathing new life into Madiba’s vision of a fair and just society through real investments towards township entrepreneurs. This season has already unearthed powerful stories of possibility, proof that township entrepreneurs, when given the right tools, can build thriving businesses that uplift entire communities.
From Soweto’s Makatu Tshivhula, founder of The Light Candles, to Tlhabane’s Gladys Katane, founder of Larona Toilet Hire, the impact stretches across provinces. We have celebrated the growth of Rosina Masetla from Mamelodi, founder of Tau Royal Entertainment; Nonkanyiso Msomi from Umlazi, founder of Nonkanyiso Funeral Services; Colin Mkosi from Khayelitsha, founder of Cloudy Deliveries, and recently in Tzaneen, Vutlhari Maphophe, founder of Papa Jone’s Café.
2. Networking Pod
This is where strangers transform into collaborators. The Kasi Business Workshop sparks new connections.
Entrepreneurs walk away with more than just financial insights, they leave with new suppliers, clients and collaborators. Below are some of the sentiments shared by attendees when asked the question: “Who did
you meet?”:
“My name Anathi from Nakai Beauty. We are an organic skin care brand. So, I met Ayande here. She does digital marketing, filmmaking, social advertising. So, I’m planning on shooting an advert for my products.
So, with her services, I know that my brand will go forward and I’ll be able to be more visible to the people out there because I have an online store and I work predominantly online and I know I can reach a lot of people through my online store.” – Khayelitsha Kasi Business Workshop
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I’m Intelligent Mashela from Bajaj Designs. I tailor from scratch, so I’m the director and the founder of it. I met this guy…he’s doing vegetables, so he’s struggling on PPE and so forth. So, we are going to collaborate on PPE. I thank you.”- Mamelodi Kasi Business Workshop
3. Mbawula Chat
This segment offers powerful, sit-down conversations with entrepreneurs who have built success from the ground up. These sessions are more than just interviews, they are fireside exchanges where stories become lessons and insight becomes fuel for the next generation of township economic builders.
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Since its inception, the Mbawula Chat has featured an inspiring lineup of visionary entrepreneurs, each carving their own path in the world of business and creativity. Sbusiso Leope, founder of Hustlers Corner and Mofaya, brought his trademark energy and entrepreneurial spirit to the stage, while Simphiwe Masiza, founder of EmpowaWorx, shared insights on building empowering platforms for African talent. This season also spotlighted Joe Human, founder of Creative Mind Space, whose bold creative thinking inspired young entrepreneurs, and Sibu Mabena, founder of Duma Collective, who offered a powerful perspective on building a leading creative agency. Finally, rounding off the season was Hilton Theunissen, a product development specialist and enterprise support advisor, who provided valuable guidance on building scalable and sustainable products.
Season 2 deepened the conversation and elevated the Kasi Business Workshop experience by featuring a powerful line-up of thought leaders and change-makers who embody the spirit of African excellence. Among them was Dr Thebe Ikalafeng, the visionary founder of the Global African Brand Authority, who imparted his unmatched insight on branding and continental identity. Renowned musician and creative entrepreneur Khuli Chana inspired attendees with his journey of cultural expression and innovation through music.
Selby Gumede, founder of Wear Your Brand, shared compelling lessons on turning personal identity into a thriving business. Nomsa Mazibuko, founder, author and community builder, whose wisdom on grassroots empowerment left a lasting impact; and finally, Derrick Ndzavi, a certified business advisor, who grounded the sessions with practical, actionable guidance for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Season 3 of the Mbawula Chats continued to fan the flames of entrepreneurial inspiration, illuminating
the stories of visionaries who have turned adversity into triumph. The fire roared to life during a compelling conversation with Emmanuel Pheagane Nkgapele – a dynamic serial entrepreneur and founder of IMA Events, KBL Projects, and The Rich Valley Wedding and Function Venue – who shared his powerful journey of reinvention within a highly competitive industry. Nomfundo Mcoyi, a former educator turned business leader, founder of Icebolethu Group, who has grown her business into a funeral parlour with over 130 branches across KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and even the UK. Buang Moloto, a mining industry veteran and CEO of Linhleko Projects, whose mission is to transform small-scale mining into a vehicle for economic empowerment.
Luvuyo Rani, Founder and CEO of Silulo Ulutho Technologies, whose tech-driven vision is reshaping township access to digital tools; and Sphelele Chikowi, founder and director of Ntozinhle Lifestyle, who offered a heartfelt reflection on building a proudly local lifestyle brand rooted in authenticity and culture.
4. Masterclass
The Masterclass sessions are where strategy meets action. Designed as hands-on learning experiences, these sessions equip township entrepreneurs with the practical tools, insights and frameworks they need to take their businesses to the next level. Entrepreneurs leave not just inspired but armed with pages of actionable advice on everything from separating personal and business finances to building a financial blueprint for sustainable growth.
Over the past three seasons, the Masterclass stage has hosted essential conversations that respond directly to the evolving needs of entrepreneurs. Topics have included brand building through storytelling, developing effective sales skills, accessing funding, navigating loadshedding disruptions, understanding pricing and credit compliance, unlocking the power of networking, and soon, mastering the art of marketing. Each Masterclass has become a toolkit for resilience and relevance.
So far, the Masterclass programme has:
• Covered 40 unique topics.
• Featured 112 facilitators.
• Been hosted in 40 townships.
5. Kasi Business Exhibition
This part of the Kasi Business Workshop provides a platform for township businesses to showcase their trades and are equipped with a portable card payment solution, enabling them and generate income on the day of the workshop. Each exhibition table tells a story of resilience and creativity, a powerful reminder that township entrepreneurs are not waiting for opportunities, they are building them.
Before we look ahead, we pause with full hearts and deep gratitude. This journey, from a single hall in Tembisa to a national platform, has been made possible by every entrepreneur who showed up, every mentor who poured into others, every community that welcomed us, and every hand that helped build this dream.
The Kasi Business Workshop was never built by one person, but by the collective spirit of those who believed in the power of township potential. Thank you to everyone who has walked this journey with us, your belief, your resilience and your participation have been the heartbeat of this movement.
A decade in, and the Kasi Business Workshop is only just beginning. The year 2025 marks more than a milestone, it is a mirror reflecting how far the Kasi Business Workshop has come in helping build the township economy. The Kasi Business Workshop has become a symbol of what is possible when township entrepreneurs are seen, supported and celebrated. Click here to view our anniversary banner- highlighting 10 years of impact.
