Outstanding entrepreneurs who have created and sustained successful, growing business ventures - through their ingenuity, hard work and perseverance - deserve to be honoured.
And the World Entrepreneur Awards Programme (WEAP) recognises such talent through regional, national and global awards in more than 135 cities in over 50 countries - including SA.
Founded in a small midwestern US city in 1986, the programme has grown to become the only worldwide award event of its kind.
WHAT IT MEANS
 Pamodzi's Ntsele selected as judge
Social category growing in popularity
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This year's global honours went to Switzerland's Dr Jean-Paul Clozel at a glittering ceremony in Monte Carlo on May 31. The biotechnology pioneer and founder of Actelion Pharmaceuticals was described as "epitomising the entrepreneurial spirit" by Ernst & Young chairman and CEO Jim Turley.
Like Switzerland, SA has enjoyed this prestigious honour since first participating in the event in 1998. In 2005 the SA-born founder of Imperial Holdings, the late Bill Lynch, won the SA chapter of the WEAP and then went on to win the global event in Monte Carlo the following year. This made him the only African representative to feature on the winning list globally since the inception of the awards 22 years ago. Lynch took a struggling Jo'burg motor dealership and turned it into a multibillion euro group with operations in Africa, Australia and Europe.
Like Lynch's struggle to make his company a success, many of this year's contestants have had to plug away to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality. "I've had to deal with people who laughed at my new ideas. But years later when my ideas turned into solid businesses I could scoff at those people. I've started about eight businesses and have 23 new ideas waiting," says Charles Maisel, who is contending for the social entrepreneur category of the awards. He is a serial social entrepreneur with projects that include Men on the Side of the Road project, Black Umbrellas and Shoebox Homes. "Mostly, people just settle for a life of mediocrity, though there are endless creative things to do."
Sanyati Holdings CEO Rick Jackson, one of the five nominees in the overall best category, sees being nominated as a major benefit for his company's exposure and credibility.
Steelrode CEO Warne Rippon, another contender in the best category, says he was nominated by one of the firm's sponsors. "FNB put my name forward. At first I was apprehensive about it, but after consideration I thought it would be a great idea, particularly for the people behind my business. They can get some recognition for all their efforts, as it is really them that have helped me through thick and thin in the industry."
Nicos Criticos of Chester Wholesale Meats is another best category nominee.
Afrimat CEO Andries van Heerden, nominated under the emerging category, says he decided to enter to see how his business compared with other businesses in SA. Afrimat is a leading black empowered supplier of building and construction materials across Southern Africa.
For Union-Swiss cofounder Justin Letschert, another contender in the emerging category, the fact that the WEAP are world-class awards was motivation enough to take part in the programme. His firm is the sole producer and distributor of Bio-Oil, one of the world's best selling scar and stretchmark products. He cofounded the business with his brother David.
The winner of the Best Entrepreneur award will represent SA at the WEAP in Monte Carlo in May/June 2009, joining fellow country winners from around the world. "We have shortlisted the finalists and will be announcing the winner this Thursday (November 13). It is gratifying to see the number of entrants increase year-on-year," says Ernst & Young SA director of entrepreneurial initiatives & strategic growth markets Zanele Xaba.
This year, SA made history again when last year's best category (overall) winner Ndaba Ntsele was given the honour of being invited to next year's event as a judge. He is the founder and CEO of Pamodzi Investment Holdings. "We are especially honoured to have one of our local candidates represent our country in this manner," Xaba says.
Each country has its own categories for which entrepreneurs can be nominated. In the SA chapter there are three categories - best, emerging and social.
"In the best category the owner or manager should have been part of the company for at least five years. In that period the company should have experienced double digit year-on-year growth and generated at least a R100m/annum turnover. He or she would also need to have a substantial equity stake in it," Xaba says.
