Virgin CEO Richard Branson was in Johannesburg to help give awards to students of his School of Entrepreneurship on Saturday.

"South Africa has been oppressed for decades," said Branson.

He said that there was not presently a generation of entrepreneurs in South Africa because young people had few examples of such people while growing up.

The day's event was a competition between business proposals from students of the Branson School of Entrepreneurship.

Proposals ranged from fashion design to maize-grinding. All were small businesses that had only recently been started up.

When announcing the winner, Branson stumbled over the pronunciation of the name, "Mmm....Mnee...I don't know how I'm going to say this name let alone find it on the internet. Whatever you're name is!" Before simply pointing out the winner with a wide grin.

A stumble like that did not dampen the spirit of winner Sonwabile Mngenela, aged 29, of Mngenela Promoters.

Mngenela creates unique ceramics, already has wholesalers, and says he wants to take his company global.

Branson said that one of the goals of the competition and school was to create small businesses that could compete with giant companies.

International empires

"You can build international empires with small amounts of money," he said.

"We don't discourage them from dreaming," said managing director of the school James Wanjohi.

"We saw some great thoughts, but those great thoughts need to be brought to reality," he concluded.

The competition prize was R10 000. In addition to this, Mngenela will be offered business advice, "if he wants it," Branson added.

But in the end, there were no losers. The CEO of the Umsobomvu Youth Fund, Malose Kekana, spontaneously offered all eight contenders, R10 000 in funding for their businesses.

Branson also announced that an anonymous businessman was so impressed by the programme he had pledged $10 000 to the winners of the competition for the next five years — starting next year.

"Sorry, wrong year," Branson told Mngenela with a friendly laugh.

But Mngenela had enough reasons to be gracious. In addition to the formal prize, one of the judges of the competition, Peter Callum, is also the head of the Cass Business School, a prominent institution in London. He surprised all by offering Mngenela a place at Cass's summer programme.

Mngenela is originally from the Eastern Cape and ceramics run in his family.

Ceramics run in his family

His entire family produces ceramics, from his sister to his 100-year-old grandmother in home-made stoves. He credits some of his success to his grandmother, "from her blessings".

One of the school's business managers, Martin Lugho, said that the School of Entrepreneurship was different from more traditional institutions like the University of Witwatersrand or the University of Johannesburg.

"They are not here to get employed. They are learning to start businesses and employ others," he said.

Commenting on the ambitions of his students, Wanjohi said, "We don't discourage them from dreaming."

The Branson School of Entrepreneurship is affiliated with CIDA City Campus. It provides bursaries for all of its students to cover their fees as well as room and board. Wanjohi said that all of its students are from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.

In addition to an education, the school is also a massive networking hub and connects young entrepreneurs with established businesses who might want to invest in their ideas.

Sapa