SA student startup advances in $1m global Hult Prize competition
Run by the Hult Prize Foundation in partnership with Hult International Business School, the competition challenges university students to launch ventures that address urgent global issues.
The announcement comes after a breakthrough year for the Hult Prize SA National Programme. In 2025, the initiative reached more than 25 higher education institutions with over 400 student startups participating, each tackling social or environmental challenges through entrepreneurship.
The national momentum culminated in the first-ever Hult Prize SA National Showcase held on May 7 in Johannesburg. The event featured 22 top ventures from across the country, selected through campus-level competitions.
Urubo Biotech placed second at the showcase. The venture impressed judges with its innovative biotech solution that uses enzymes and microbes to convert bioplastic waste into high-value fuels and chemicals.
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IOL News
29 minutes ago
- IOL News
How a lime shortage sparked an agricultural breakthrough in Limpopo
The Moletele Community and Komati Fruit Group in Hoedspruit, Limpopo supplies lime to serve the Corona brand for South African Breweries. Image: Supplied By Zoleka Lisa A year ago, we told a story that started with a lime and ended in hope. A national lime shortage had threatened the iconic ritual that completes a Corona beer — that perfect wedge balancing on the rim of a bottle. But at SAB, we saw an opportunity. Not just to secure a supply chain, but to plant something far deeper: the seeds of inclusive agricultural growth in one of South Africa's rural communities. Fast forward 12 months, and the Moletele Corona Limes Project is no longer a bet —it's a proven blueprint. In 2018, we began working with the Moletele Community and Komati Fruit Group in Hoedspruit, Limpopo. Our goal was to build a sustainable, local lime supply to serve the Corona brand. At the same time we wanted to unlock jobs, transfer skills and create much needed income, in an area rich with land and potential, but short on investment. Far from a once-off CSI campaign, this was a deliberate, long-term localisation effort that was grounded in trust, rooted in community, and driven by shared value. And westayed the course. The Numbers Tell One Story In 2024 alone, the project delivered: 2.5 million limes harvested, more than double 2023's output A 53-tonne increase in yield year-on-year R5 million in revenue, up from R3.8 million in 2023 98% of yield sold locally, stabilising South Africa's supply chain Growth in permanent jobs from and seasonal jobs sustained Ongoing benefits to 1 615 Moletele families through land rental, with 55 households directly supported Most impressively though, is that we did not need to plant a single additional hectare in 2024. Instead, we focused on doing better, not just doing more. Operational excellence met community ownership, and the results speak volumes. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading The People Tell Another For Ruben Koekemoer, Komati Group's production manager, this past season wastransformational: 'Over the past year, the limes project was a very good experience and learning phase. We did our first pruning with our own people working there as well as the irrigation setup and fertilizer setup. Everyone was involved and learned new things and new methods to improve the limes. With starting up this season, we are all working together and making decisions together to wake up the trees and set the new fruits that we will first harvest in week 27. We are looking forward to new growth and new opportunity that will come this 2025 season, and we believe it will the best season so far. We want to thank everyone that is involved with the project and are looking forward to the many years to come working together as one unit.' – Ruben Koekemoer, production manager – Komati Group. And for Pontsho Mathebula, a Moletele community member turned team leader: 'Over the past few years working at limes, I've gained so much experience working together with my leaders and my colleagues. We also did our first pruning, which was great experience, and production was great. No crop loss which means our project is growing and our jobs are safe. We also managed to hire 10 temporary workers, that means 10 families are going to be fed and that's awesome. I'm looking forward to the project's growth and improvement so we can hire more people. l would like to thank everyone who is in involved in this project, please keep doing the good things that you are doing. We appreciate you. From me and my colleagues, we thank you guys.' - Pontsho Mathebula, team leader Komati Group and member of the Moletele community. The Moletele Community and Komati Fruit Group in Hoedspruit, Limpopo has unlocked jobs, transferred skills and created much needed income, in an area rich with land and potential, but short on investment. Workers were taken with former Minister of Agriculture, Thoko Didiza, during her visit to the farm. Image: Supplied A New Definition of Localisation Too often in corporate South Africa, localisation means switching suppliers. We talk often in corporate South Africa about supply chain transformation — but how often are we building entirely new categories of production in overlooked rural areas? Rarely does it mean building entire categories of production where none existed before. This project flips that script. It's not about compliance. It's about contribution. Because in today's South Africa, what we need is not just job creation —it's economic inclusion that lasts. The kind that grows with the seasons and compounds over time. At SAB, we've always believed that beer is more than a beverage. It's an engine for economic growth. And in Hoedspruit, a single lime is proving that belief right. The Road Ahead The Moletele model shows us that it can be done. With land. With trust. With the right partners. And with the patience to see the seasons through. We're consistent because we know real change is not made in headlines — it's made in harvests. And yet, we hope this story continues to spark the kind of public imagination South Africa needs right now: how many more sectors have the seeds of inclusive growth just waiting to be planted? The future of farming doesn't lie only in hectares — it lies in shared value. From a premium beer brand's ritual to the heart of rural development, a single lime has become a symbol of what's possible when business thinks beyond profit and places purpose at the centre of growth. And so, as we reflect on the journey of the past year, we remain clear-eyed about the years ahead: this isn't a once-off. This is a blueprint. From Hoedspruit to the world. Because sometimes, a wedge of lime isn't just a garnish — it's a game-changer. Zoleka Lisa is the vice president for corporate affairs at the South African Breweries (SAB). Image: Supplied Zoleka Lisa is the vice president for corporate affairs at the South African Breweries (SAB). ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. BUSINESS REPORT
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
SAFA KZN President defends sponsorship secrecy amid financial scrutiny
EVEN with all the debacles at Safa, Danny Jordaan's position remains safe with regions like Safa KZN standing by the current leadership. | Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers SAFA KZN President Mazwi Mkhize has defended Danny Jordaan's decision not to disclose sponsorship figures, saying revealing them would only expose how little South African football is actually receiving. The comments come a month after SAFA's appearance before Parliament, where the governing body faced tough questions about its finances and overall administration. Jordaan also hinted he may run for a fourth term in 2026. The most heated moment during the session came when Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana demanded SAFA reveal how much it receives from headline sponsors Hollywoodbets and 10Bet — both betting companies with a visible footprint in local football. SAFA Chief Financial Officer Gronie Hluyo responded by saying the association could not reveal the details due to confidentiality clauses in the contracts it signed with the sponsors. He maintained that disclosing the amounts would violate legal agreements. 'In terms of our sponsorship contracts, we've got confidentiality clauses. We'll be in breach of those contracts if we disclose sponsorship agreements and their value,' Hluyo told the committee. Several MPs, however, were unimpressed by the explanation. They said SAFA's lack of transparency made it difficult for them to recommend that the Ministry of Sports allocate further funding to the organisation. The association's latest financial report showed only R356 million in sponsorship revenue. Broadcast income from the SABC, which is itself under financial strain, remains minimal. Now Mkhize has come out in support of Jordaan and Hluyo, arguing that hiding the figures is actually in football's best interest. Speaking to Ukhozi FM, Mkhize said the numbers would shock the public and attract criticism that could damage the sport. 'I think it was the right decision not to reveal the amounts sponsored to the association because it's embarrassing if we're to hear the amount football gets sponsored,' said Mkhize. 'If people and the media knew the figures, there would be no questions of where the money is going — because it is so little.' 'We've asked these questions before, but we wanted to hide under tables when we heard the numbers,' he added.
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Springboks launch first official flagship fan store
The launch of the first official Springbok store marks the start of an exciting new chapter for South African rugby merchandise. And it fulfils SA Rugby's 2024 goal to meet growing fan demand, curb counterfeit sales, and strengthen the Springbok brand both locally and internationally. The ground-breaking development was inaugurated at a special ceremony on Thursday featuring Gayton McKenzie, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, and Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, and is planned to be followed by further store openings elsewhere in the country. The store will feature the official Nike replica teamwear as well as an exciting new range of off-field supporters clothing, called Springboks, designed to be worn everywhere – from the office to the braai. 'In retrospect, it is amazing that we have not had such an offering before now,' said Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union, at the shop launch. 'Before today, if you'd asked the question 'where is the Springbok shop?' you'd have been met by blank faces. 'Famous sports teams around the world have club shops. If you're in the Champs Elysee in Paris, you can visit the Paris St Germain club shop; if you're passing through Munich airport you can visit the Bayern Munich club shop and if you're in the Old Trafford area of Manchester you can visit United's megastore. 'But if a visitor to South Africa wants to take home with him or her a memento of one of Africa's most famous sports teams where was the Springboks store? Now we have an answer.' The new store's offering is also available online for fans both in SA and overseas and can be found at The opening marks the successful completion of a goal set by SARU's Executive Council at the start of 2024 to answer South Africa's hunger for the Springbok brand. Rian Oberholzer, SA Rugby CEO, said: 'The explosion of counterfeiters and imitators since 2019 has flooded e-commerce channels with fake product, borrowing from the colours and iconography of the Springboks. 'The Exco recognised there was a gap in the market that others were exploiting and that there was an opportunity and a need for SA Rugby to meet that demand and retain the value for the benefit of rugby. 'The intention is that this store will be followed by others in due course with a range of clothing that will allow rugby fans to show their support for the Springboks in many different items of clothing – it's not just for Saturdays. 'That we have got here so quickly – within 18 months of setting the goal – is a tribute to the hard work of the team that has gone on behind the scenes. 'This is the start of an exciting new chapter for the Springboks and will take the brand into places it has never been before.' The store is located at Protea Court in Sandton City and can be most easily reached from the Rivonia Road entrance. Fans can shop the full range ARE YOU READY TO SPEND YOUR MONEY AT THE SPRINGBOKS STORE? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
