A local entrepreneur, Mr Moudy Mudzielwana, received the award as “Entrepreneur of the Year” during the inaugural Tshwane Business Awards held at the Sheraton Hotel Pretoria last Saturday (28 November).

Mudzielwana is a director of the Vhembe-based company, Tshikovha Environmental and Communication Consulting. The company specialises in consulting on projects such as waste management and also assists with environmental-impact assessments.

Mr Carel Motshekga, founder of the Tshwane Business Awards (TBAs), said that the awards had the aim of recognising and honouring business excellence amongst Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs). He said that the primary objective of the TBAs was to promote SMEs as effective models of job creation, while simultaneously and robustly delivering a message that, through ground-breaking and value-driven concepts, entrepreneurial ideas can be translated into world-class ventures.

Asked about his award as the Entrepreneur of the Year, Mr Moudy Mudzelwana said: “As a leader, I only give directions, rather than command my fellow workers. This is only through their unending support that I have found myself winning this award. However, I make sure that I do not procrastinate when doing my work, and I also stick to my work plan with all the effort and determination required. Although I am not doing this for any special recognition, I feel very happy because there is nothing more rewarding than being honoured by your own people while you are still alive.” 

Mudzielwana attributed the successes to his staff members' working together as a team. “We know that success follows hard work, and dedication is the only recipe for outstanding achievement. Above all, we will never forget to thank our communities out there because without their cooperation and support, our dreams could never have been realized.”