SA Breweries showed their support for young and upcoming business people by sponsoring the second Soutpansberg Entrepreneurs Week to be held in Louis Trichardt from 8 to 10 August.

The SA Breweries sponsorship amounts to R100 000 and will be used to cover the costs of running the competition and getting some of the country's top speakers to address local entrepreneurs. Other sponsors of the week include ABSA, the University of Venda, VBS Mutual Bank, Sanlam, SA Custodial Management Services, Anglo American Chairman's Fund, FNB, People's Bank and Standard Bank.

The Soutpansberg Entrepreneurs Week centres around a competition aimed at promoting a culture of entrepreneurship in the region. The week is organised by the Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce. It comprises three categories, namely for primary school children, secondary school children and a category for people between 19 and 23 years of age. Competitors need to submit a business plan, explaining how their business functions, what product or service they offer and why it will be successful. The business plan may also be for a fictitious business.

The three winners in the category for secondary school pupils can win prizes totalling R10 000, while the prize money in the primary school category totals R6 000. Winners in the senior category (19 to 23 year old) will also win prizes worth over R10 000. These include advertising contracts, free sign-writing and assistance with setting up a company.

Well-known businessman and former politician, Cyril Ramaphosa, will officially open the Soutpansberg Entrepreneurs Week. Mr Ramaphosa hails from Venda and indicated that he was looking forward to help create a spirit of entrepreneurship in the area.

The speakers for the first day include well-known former cricket player, Pat Symcox and Quinton Coetzee, who is better known as the presenter of the popular television programme "Veld Focus". Elsabé Aldrecht, who also visited the town during last year's entrepreneurs week, will visit various schools in the region to teach children how to start thinking in an innovative and entrepreneurial manner. A lady who went through a terrible ordeal in the Eastern Cape, Alison, will tell her brave story to the local audience.

On Friday, August 9, the list of speakers includes David Malapo and possibly Kevin Wakeford.

The venue for the various sessions is the Ferdie Beyers Hall on the corner of Burger and Erasmus streets. Tickets are available from outlets in Louis Trichardt and Thohoyandou. Tickets cost R5 per child and R15 per adult.

The Soutpansberg Entrepreneurs Week will be marked by various other activities arranged to coincide with the event. On Friday, 9 August, a street festival will take place at the local caravan park. Young entrepreneurs may also use this opportunity to exhibit their goods. A number of sports clubs have indicated that they have arranged special tournaments for the weekend. Among these is the Soutpansberg Hockey Club that has arranged a six-a-side tournament for both junior and senior teams. Teams from as far as Bulawayo in Zimbabwe have confirmed that they will be taking part in this event. Other sporting events include a tennis tournament and cricket matches.

Entry forms for the entrepreneurs' competition are available from schools in the region or it can be downloaded from www.zoutnet.co.za/brightsparks. The website also has more information about the competition and the various speakers.