The grand prize winner of R100 000 was Desiree ‘Chef Des’ Ngema, founder of Desbaked. She was honoured at the Bambelela Business Awards for her excellent entrepreneurship skills.

THE Hollywood Foundation, renowned for its commitment to enterprise and supplier development, proudly hosted the 4th Bambelela Business Awards at the Greyville Convention Centre on 26 March. The awards themed ‘Bambelela (Hold On) – Your Dreams Are Valid,’ was hosted for the first time in Durban and saw 20 entrepreneurs announced as winners sharing approximately R750 000 in funding from the Hollywood Foundation. Seventeen recipients received R30 000 each, while the thirdplace winner secured R50 000 and the second-place winner took home R70 000. The first place winner took home a whopping R100 000 towards growing their business.

The businesses owners were overjoyed at receiving the cash injection and shared as they accepted their cheques on stage how they plan to expand their businesses with their winnings. About 160 businesses across KwaZulu-Natal were shortlisted from 400 entries. Of the 160 shortlisted businesses, 109 businesses are Durban-based. Desiree Ngema, popularly known as Chef Des, founded Desbaked which operates in Pinetown and is a culinary business specialising in wedding cakes. She took home the first placed prize. “I am at a loss for words. 

 But thank you to everyone for contributing to the growth of my business,” she said. Part of her winnings will be invested in a free baking masterclass to give back to the community. “I received help therefore it is important to pay it forward and help other budding entrepreneurs,” she said. SMME Development Deputy Head at eThekwini Municipality Nonku Mthembu congratulated the winners. She said eThekwini Municipality is proud to be partners of such an impactful programme. “I am happy to see such good representation of winners from Durban, some of which have been skilled, mentored and exposed through the Municipality’s enterprise development flagship programmes such as furniture making, women economic empowerment and the Durban Business Fair.” Hollywood Foundation Operations Manager Meghan Hourquebie said: “Entrepreneurs are drivers of change in terms of contributing to economic transformation and employment.  is initiative therefore exempli es the Hollywood Foundation’s unwavering commitment to fostering economic growth and empowering entrepreneurs.