Qhawekazi Memani – 08 November 2021

“I have just completed my masters and will be graduating on the 22 of November 2021.  On Tuesday, 2 November 2021 my dissertation article was published. This makes it my 3rd publication for 2021 with the 4th one loading.

I wouldn’t have made it this far if it wasn’t for the help of my supervisor, Prof VE Pakade and my co-supervisor, Prof PN Nomngongo, my mentor Miss Lesaoana, my VUT and UJ lab team (lab 3404 and C105). Thank you for your involvement in my master’s work. May the Good Lord bless you all. To my family and everyone who’s been supporting Qhubu Supplies, this win will be dedicated to you all. Thank you,” says the overjoyed and grateful Mpho Qhuba.

With many wins up her sleeves, graduating this season is not the only thing Mpho is looking forward to. She has just been selected to participate in the intervarsity entrepreneurship national competition: “The virtual pitching session for the regional round was on the 13 of September 2021. I was expected to do a 3 minutes’ pitch about my business virtually. The winners were announced on the 17th of September 2021 virtually. I was selected amongst 150 participants as one of the 28 who will be competing at the national finals,” explained Mpho.

The intervarsity entrepreneurship competition will commence on 18 to 19 November 2021 at a venue not yet announced in Johannesburg.

“To be honest, I am scared. The competition is tough. Most of the participants are already established, but I have a genuinely proud feeling on the inside. I have made it this far and I have learned a lot. I have met people who are doing amazingly well, and I have learned a lot from them. We can keep our eyes on the price, however if we look around and look back how far we’ve come, we’ve already won more than what the price is all about. That’s what I have realized with the EDHE Intervarsity competition. I am already fulfilled in my heart for being part of this amazing journey. It has given me an opportunity to get my business out there and known through networking. I am looking forward to the finals,” says Mpho.

At the Nationals: “I will be presenting my existing business Qhubu Supplies. I manufacture my own liquid hand sanitizers, home fragrance diffusers, car fresheners and cleaning detergents. It’s a newly developed business that just started this year,” shared Mpho.

VUT wishes Mpho all the best of luck with the competition and future endeavours.