A thriving community depends on a thriving local economy. When local businesses grow and create jobs, it brings stability to the people who live there, invites further investment into the area and builds resilience.
Over close to a decade, the Ranyaka Building Business (RBB) programme has given us the opportunity to journey alongside entrepreneurs in communities across the country. And it’s about so much more than training and information sharing. As an urban planning social enterprise, we believe in the power of place and the necessity of an ecosystems approach to all we do.
The backdrop against which we live, learn, play and do business, has a significant impact on our well-being, in every sense of the word. Networks unlock opportunity and create pipelines for market access. Safe, clean spaces boost morale, business and investment. And confidence is key. Without it, capacity-building makes very little difference to the bottom line.
In our capacity as the implementation agents for the Nedbank-funded, national Proud of my Town initiative, our team gets to witness and participate in the journeys of dynamic entrepreneurs across South Africa. Small businesses with big dreams that have the power not only to change the lives of the business owners who pursue those dreams, but those of communities they call home. Where they create jobs. Showcase local talent. And bring hope.
THE FIRST COHORT OF RANYAKA BUILDING BUSINESS IN POLOKWANE.
Building Business kicks off in Polokwane
This year, the Ranyaka Building Business programme spread its wings to Polokwane in Limpopo province. In February 2025, Ranyaka hosted an information session that attracted more than 70 local business owners, showing a clear appetite for growth and practical support in the area.
Out of 68 applicants, we selected 30 entrepreneurs from diverse sectors to join a programme delivered over several weeks, beginning in mid-April. The programme focused on providing practical tools that entrepreneurs could apply immediately. These ranged from financial literacy sessions hosted by Nedbank, to training workshops covering compliance know-how, planning skills, branding basics and the skills to pitch their ideas clearly.
Throughout the journey, entrepreneurs worked on refining their models, improving their business pricing structures, understanding their numbers and learning the essentials of branding in building a professional presence. As part of the journey to support businesses in gaining visibility, graduates also received Nedbank-sponsored, professional photo sessions and will be featured on Ranyaka and Nedbank platforms.
Pitching was another key component of the programme. Participants practiced sharing their business stories, because in the end, it takes more than great products and streamlined systems for a business to survive and attract additional investment. Equally important to creating a thriving business, is the ability to pitch a product or service offering with clarity and confidence. Of the 30 participants selected, 22 entrepreneurs completed the programme and joined in the graduation ceremony. The graduate businesses span manufacturing, construction, marketing, food production, event and creative services and more.
FROM TOP LEFT TO BOTTOM RIGHT (CLOCKWISE): REFILOE MASIMULA, OWNER OF AFRICAN NOSH, SPEAKS AT THE INTRODUCTION SESSION | ENTREPRENEURS OF SMMES ATTEND THE RANYAKA POLOKWANE BUILDING BUSINESS INTRODUCTION SESSION | APRIL MARKED THE FIRST DAY OF THE CRAFTING AND MASTERING YOUR BUSINESS SESSION HELD WITH SMMES | BEAUTIFUL SMILES FROM REFILOE MASIMULA AND MAKGOBE MAKOELA AT THE INTRODUCTORY SESSION.
Meet our top achievers for 2025
Khomotso Chere from Mordilaide Foods immediately applied what she had learned. Over the weeks, she became increasingly confident in communicating with customers and mastered her cost of sales to ensure accurate and profitable pricing.
Khutso from Tophi Cleans maximised what she learned from the branding and marketing sessions to up her game, building a business website and developing marketing material to share her story. She also supported her fellow participants by helping them to create logos and branding assets. And her dedication to practising her pitching paid off when she had the opportunity to pitch live on Capricorn FM.
Priscilla Ramalatsa from Priscilla R Holdings proved herself to be a natural leader with strong communication skills, often facilitating group discussions and contributing to the collective learning process. She worked hard to boost the credibility of her business by ensuring SARS and CIPC compliance, and improved her packaging to elevate her brand image. Her commitment to obtaining her Certificate of Acceptability reflects her focus on long-term growth. Her determination also translated into tangible results when she secured angel investment and shared her story on Capricorn FM.
“Capricorn District Municipality is excited to be part of Ranyaka’s Building Business Programme, a fantastic platform that’s really helping our young entrepreneurs shine. By opening up our training hall and supporting this initiative, we’re showing our commitment to creating real opportunities that spark innovation, resilience and economic growth in our district. To all the young people out there: don’t hold back. Believe in your ideas and make the most of programmes like this. Your journey truly begins with one brave step, and know that your district believes in you and is right behind you all the way.”- Brightly Nchabeleng, Capricorn District Municipality Youth Development Coordinator
FROM TOP LEFT TO BOTTOM RIGHT (CLOCKWISE): KHOMOTSO CHERE FROM MORDILAIDE FOODS, ONE OF THE TOP 3 AWARDEES, RECEIVES THE AWARD FOR HER OUTSTANDING APPLICATION OF WORKSHOP LESSONS. | JULIANA SELEMELA (NEDBANK REGIONAL MANAGER POLOKWANE AND SURROUNDS) DELIVERS THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS | TOPHI CLEANS, LED BY KHUTSO MOKUBEDI, WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS EXCELLENT STORYTELLING AND PITCHING SKILLS. | PRISCILLA RAMALATSA RECEIVES THE TOP AWARD FOR HER CONFIDENT COMMUNICATION AND EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP. | PRESENTING THE AWARDS TO THE GRADUATES FEATURED HERE ARE NEDBANK TEAM MEMBERS, YVONNE MALATJI AND MOGOWE MASETE, JOINED BY OUR FACILITATOR, CHOENE NKOANA.
FROM TOP LEFT TO BOTTOM RIGHT (CLOCKWISE): RANYAKA’S NOMCEBO MGAGA REFLECTS ON THE BUILDING BUSINESS JOURNEY, HONOURING THE GRIT AND GROWTH SHOWN BY THE ENTREPRENEURS THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAMME, SHE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT STILL LIE AHEAD, EXPRESSING HER ADMIRATION FOR THE GRADUATES’ COMMITMENT. | RBB GRADUATES NOBESUTHU RAMUKHOTHELI AND PRISCILLA RAMALATSA SHARE THEIR BUILDING BUSINESS JOURNEYS, REFLECTING ON THE LESSONS GAINED, THE MINDSET SHIFTS EXPERIENCED, AND HOW THE PROGRAMME HAS RESHAPED THE WAY THEY APPROACH AND GROW THEIR BUSINESS GOING FORWARD. | GRADUATION DAY IN POLOKWANE WAS MADE EVEN MORE SPECIAL BY SENELISIWE MATLAWE AND HER BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED CAKE. | A LABOUR OF LOVE, THIS STUNNING CAKE WAS MADE ESPECIALLY FOR THE OCCASION.
Then there were also participants who achieved recognition beyond the RBB programme. We are incredibly proud of Tebogo Moremi from Primo Poultry, who went on to win R30,000 as a finalist in the MTN Youth Hustle Hub Agribusiness Development Programme. In turn, Refilwe Masimula from African Nosh, reached the Top 18 in the Lemi Tank Competition for innovation and entrepreneurial creativity!
Looking ahead
Whilst the graduates wrapped up the programme equipped with practical skills, sharper business tools and greater confidence, their journeys have just begun. The RBB Polokwane 2025 alumni are now part of a growing network of entrepreneurs across South Africa who are building stronger local economies. They will have the opportunity to become members of a THRIVE business club in 2026. And as resources allow and partners who share the vision continue to join the journey, we will continue to help building the broader ecosystems where these small business owners – and thousands of others – can continue to thrive.
FROM TOP LEFT TO BOTTOM RIGHT (A CHORUS OF CHEERS FILLED THE ROOM AS GRADUATES SHOUTED WORDS OF PRAISE AS EACH ENTREPRENEUR WAS CALLED TO THE STAGE. | A MOMENT OF COLLECTIVE JOY AS GRADUATES AND PARTNERS RAISE A TOAST TO GROWTH, RESILLIENCE, AND THE JOURNEYS THAT BROUGHT THEM HERE. | THE NEDBANK POLOKWANE BRANCH TEAM JOINED IN THE CELEBRATIONS. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ARE MAUREEN CHOKOE, MADIMETJA LEDWABA, JULIANA SELEMELA, YVONNE MALATJI AND MOGOWE MASETE.
Congratulations to our graduates
LPM Monama Holdings • Royal Corporations • Makgobe & Sons Enterprise • Mama J Mhloti Furniture Manufacturers • Bahumi Marketing Agency • African Nosh • Tophi Cleans • Resta Solutions • Beauty of Concrete • Masehela Building Construction & Supply (Pty) Ltd • Priscilla R Holdings • Mordilaide Trading (Pty) Ltd • Bubbling Brook Creations • Willhun Projects & Supply • Rockfela Mokone Trading 147 • Mahlodi Cleaning Chemicals (Pty) Ltd • Primo Poultry • Sweet Nhlamulo Events Management • Kenanyah Films • Shelemiah Boerdery • Matsakis K Projects
Building Business is one of ten programmes that Ranyaka is implementing in towns and townships across South Africa. Ranyaka is the official implementation agent of the Nedbank-funded Proud of my Town programme.