Premier’s Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards

19 November 2015

Group Winners. The winners of the Western Cape Government’s Premier’s Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards were celebrated at an awards ceremony on 19 November. Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde (front right), said that the winners are showcasing the province’s

entrepreneurial excellence.

Business of the Year. The Film and entertainment company Triggerfish Animation Studios walked away with the top award and was the PERA 2015 Business of the Year. Anthony Silverston and Vanessa Sinden

accepted the award on behalf of the business. The animation studio, which is based in Bergvliet, also won the Business with Global Reach prize.

Best Emerging Agro-processing Business and Innovative Student Business Idea: Lufefe Nomjana of Espinaca Innovations and Bianca Vernes of Growth Op. Nomjana won the Best

Emerging Agro-processing Business category and Vernes was second runner-up in the Innovative Student Business Idea category.

Best Emerging Business: Minister Alan Winde with Dereck and Adrian Marnewick of Learning Lab apps. Learning Lab apps, which designs educational mobile and web-based apps, won the Best Emerging

Business category.

Best Established Business: Minister Alan Winde with Linden Rhoda and Dean Ferreira of NCC Environmental Services, which was recognised as Best Established Business. The company’s work

included projects such as ensuring the Absa Cape Epic mountain bike race stays green.

Best Innovative Business: David Drew and Cobus Kotze from AgriProtein with Minister Winde. AgriProtein, which won the Best Innovative Business category, diverts hundreds of tons of organic waste

from landfill every week, using the nutrients to grow flies and larvae-maggots - the natural feed for chickens and fish.

Best Job-Creating Business: Peter Petersen from Mpower Waste receiving the best job-creating business award from Minister Winde. When the Van Rhynsdorp-based business started, it employed 14

full-time and 40 part-time employees. Today, business has grown to 89 full time and 55 part-time employees.

Best Social Enterprise: The Best Social Enterprise prize was awarded to Nicole Iresch of Township Patterns. To date more than 120 local women have received sewing skills and business training and

there are now eight autonomous cooperatives that earn an income sewing Fair Trade bags and fashion accessories for the company.

Best Green Business: Postwink Recycling Solutions was recognised as Best Green Business. Berenice Westmore created a range of recycling bins suited to the South Africa context and also supplies a new

enzyme cleaner called the Bacterrorist.

Best Emerging Regional Business: The 2015 Premier’s Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards are sponsored by Absa, Deloitte, Business Partners and Entrepreneurs’ Organization. Willie Zastron, Absa’s Head of Business Banking handed over the Best Emerging Regional Business prize to Pierre Boshoff of

Hermanus Clothing Manufacturing.

Best Emerging Tourism Business: Conan Cole, President of Entrepreneurs’ Organisation and sponsor of PERA 2015 congratulating Ryan Larkman of Cape Canopy Tours. The adventure activity company won

the Best Emerging Tourism Business category.

Head Of Department: Solly Fourie, Head of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The Department is the organiser of the Premier’s Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards which aims to

showcase the powerful potential of local entrepreneurs.

Last Year’s Overall Winner: Jeanne Groenewald of Elgin Free Range Chicken was the overall winner of last year's PERA. She described what this year’s business of the year could look forward to which included more than

R100 000 in prize money as well as an internal business trip.

Best School Business Idea: Mr Dewald Gaigher of Business Partners, a sponsor of this year’s awards handed over the Best School Business Idea prize to Jana de Villiers and Louise Buhrman. The learners of

Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof created a Smart Alarm security system for people in low-income houses.

Master of Ceremony: HeartFM presenter Tapfuma Makina was master of ceremonies at the awards ceremony.

Jazz Band Entertainment: Anjulie Nock and the Gracetown Jazz Band entertained guests for the evening.

Best Innovative Student Idea: Dewald Müller, founder of Cuppa Campus, won the Best Innovative Student Business Idea award.