Two online educational platforms and a jewellery manufacturer that blends African design with safety technology won awards in the Existing Business — Social Impact category of the seventh annual EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity, recently. Their founders were all honoured for the social impact they are making in their communities and beyond.
The overall winner in the category was Ms Malehu Charlotte Mohale, from the University of Cape Town (UCT), whose Early Bird Testimony Academy won her R25,000 in prize money. The runners-up were Mr Kabelo Makhetha, founder of OWA Jewellers, from the Central University of Technology (CUT), and Mr Katleho Mphutlane from the University of Fort Hare (UFH). His business, Incremental Education, seeks to bridge the gap between education and employability. Both took home R10,000.
The Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE), a programme of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) administered and implemented by Universities South Africa (USAf), is the custodian of the annual EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity. EDHE is predominantly funded through the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP) of the DHET.
The Intervarsity is a platform designed to identify, recognise and celebrate top student entrepreneurs at South Africa’s 26 public universities. The event has, over the years, enjoyed the support of numerous private sector entities, including the SAB Foundation, which, in 2025, supports the initiative for the sixth year in a row.
Mohale (above), a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) student at UCT, started the Early Bird Testimony Academy after successfully tutoring and mentoring other students.
Coming from a village called Ga-Mamaila in Limpopo, she passed her National School Certificate exams in 2022 with an average of 92.83%, having scored 99% in mathematics. She was the only student in her district to go to UCT.
“I soon realised that I was both passionate about mathematics and about tutoring. I love teaching because it is the best way to impact lives and see the potential in my students. This led to the formation of the Early Bird Testimony Academy.
“We are determined to make a difference to the current education statistics in South Africa, where more than 40% of learners leave school before they reach Grade 12; 60% of those in Grade 9 struggle with core subjects directly tied to their university aspirations; and, more than 70% of learners in townships and rural areas lack access to mentorship throughout their academic journey,” Mohale says.
“These students’ voices are being silenced before they even show up. We cannot afford to lose a generation of young people to unemployment, low skill and disconnection. Without education, the cycle of poverty and inequality continues and holds us back as a country. I am living proof that with the right interventions, the trajectory of life can be changed.”
The academy provides affordable and accessible online tutoring and holistic mentorship, particularly for Grade 12 learners, with classes offered in mathematics, physical and life sciences. The focus is on academic excellence and preparing students for their final high school exams at a cost less than five times that of their major competitors.
To date, the academy has assisted 2,300 learners, of whom 600 are now at university. The academy’s top 20 learners in 2024 scored an average of 80%, with a reported pass rate of 85%.
“A child’s background should never hold them back,” Mohale asserts.
Functional jewellery
Mr Kabelo Makhetha (left), founder of OWA Jewellers, is studying for his Postgraduate: Advanced Diploma in Studio Art, majoring in jewellery design and manufacturing at CUT. The idea for his award-winning CareLink pendant was sparked by a need to resolve a family crisis.
“My grandmother had dementia and often got lost. Drawing on my jewellery manufacturing skills, I decided to integrate care with craft. Because dementia often prevents individuals from identifying themselves, I created QR code-enabled jewellery. With a simple scan, the pendant provides instant identity information, ensuring that loved ones living with dementia or mental frailty can be recognised and assisted quickly in moments of need.”
The resultant CareLink pendant has become his business’s flagship product.
“People living with dementia need immediate help, yet the condition is often underestimated. This jewellery can also be used on children, for example.”
Makhetha is working to expand his company’s offerings by introducing more commercially viable products to create employment opportunities and contribute to broader social and economic growth.
“I am committing to go into business full-time, dedicating my energy and focus to building OWA Jewellers to its fullest potential. I aspire to become Bloemfontein’s jewellery giant in the next five years.”
He was delighted to be recognised at the intervarsity this year: “I had entered for the past two years but never won at the nationals. Determined not to give up, this achievement stands as a testament to my dedication and commitment to advancing jewellery design, bringing together safety, style and technology.”
His message to fellow student entrepreneurs: “Stay true to your passions. Validation should never come from external sources; look within yourself and trust your journey. Whatever you set your mind to is achievable when you believe in your own strength and commitment.”
Bridging the gap between education and employability
Mr Katleho Mphutlane (right), a final-year Bachelor of Commerce in Economics student at UFH, is the co-founder of Incremental Education, a game-changing organisation tackling one of South Africa’s most stubborn challenges: bridging the gap between education and employability.
Incremental Education empowers students with practical skills and global opportunities, focusing on supporting TVET college and university of technology students in tourism, hospitality and agriculture. It also creates global pathways for students, especially those from TVET colleges and universities of technology, by placing them in international work-integrated learning and cultural exchange programmes in the United States, Mauritius, Germany and beyond.
“These opportunities provide students with crucial exposure and networks. They also gain practical experience that prepares them for the global workforce,” explains Mphutlane.
“The entire EDHE journey has been truly life-changing and has given us a valuable platform to showcase our work. This opportunity also highlights the work we have done in supporting students. It addresses the critical challenge faced by many who cannot graduate due to the shortage of work-integrated learning opportunities.”
Janine Greenleaf Walker is a contract writer for Universities South Africa.