The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) just flipped the script on how students see business, leadership, and innovation. On 15 May 2025, their Student Support Services (SSS) hosted a game-changing workshop that could easily be a launchpad for the next generation of SA’s business trailblazers. Welcome to the Student Entrepreneur Series — where mindset meets hustle, and big ideas turn into real moves.
Right from the jump, the vibe was electric. Ms Matshepo Rathebe, the powerhouse behind science and tech commercialisation at VUT’s Tech Transfer Office (yeah, she’s that girl), kicked things off with purpose. She laid it out: this isn’t just another workshop, it’s a blueprint for student entrepreneurs to sharpen their business game, unlock leadership potential, and start thinking way beyond survival.
This was about creating, scaling, and making real impact.
Enter Ms Happy Makhumalo Ngidi — the CMO of Proudly South African and an absolute force in the local business scene. She brought the fire with a message that hit home: we’ve got everything we need right here in Mzansi. By supporting local brands and building our own, we’re not just making money — we’re rebuilding the economy, creating jobs, and setting up a future that’s proudly South African.
In her words (that had the whole room nodding):
“Today’s South African isn’t just getting by — we’re building brands, claiming space, and leaving legacies. It starts with being intentional, focused, and playing the long game.”
And then came the panel — and let’s just say, wow.
Mr Seati Moloi (Khoi Tech), Mr Dumisani Mahlangu (Chepa Streetwear), and Ms Mel Tlapi (Soweto Travel Shop) didn’t hold back. They kept it real about the highs, lows, and everything in between of running a business in SA.
Their advice?
Your surroundings shape your success. Stay around people who pour into you. Your mind is your money-maker, so use it. Start now. Stay on the grind. Dream crazy-big.
They reminded us that change in this country? It’s not coming from the top — it’s coming from the youth. From YOU.
To wrap things up with a bang, Mr Prince Mashamba’s Above The Law of Clothing brand brought fashion to the forefront with a runway that gave style, vibe, and unapologetic expression. Models from the student body strutted like they owned it — because they did.
The takeaway?
The future of entrepreneurship isn’t some far-off fantasy. It’s right here, on campus, in these conversations, on these runways, and inside the minds of bold students ready to build something bigger than themselves.
Watch this space. VUT isn’t just making students — they’re making moguls.
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