Gift Stemela, a West Coast College student from the Atlantis Campus, took top honours in the Innovative Business Idea category in the Allan Gray Inspire Inter-Campus Entrepreneurship Competition held in Malmesbury on 10 June.
The competition brought student entrepreneurs from across West Coast College’s campuses together, with 107 entries received this year, more than double the number submitted in 2025. Following preliminary rounds 26 students were selected to pitch their business ideas and existing enterprises at the inter-campus event.
Stemela’s achievement was one of several successes for Atlantis Campus.
In the General Business category, Cheneal Vember (Atlantis Campus) secured third place, while Alfred America (Vredenburg Campus) and Anothando Jubase (Malmesbury Campus) placed second and third respectively behind overall winner Bianca Felix (Malmesbury Campus).
In the Innovative Business Idea category, Stemela was followed by Alfred America (Vredenburg Campus) and Anothando Jubase (Malmesbury Campus).
Karabelo Frans Borokelo (Vredendal Campus) won the Tech Business category, ahead of Khanyisa Mantshi (Malmesbury Campus) and Sanele Mingane (Vredenburg Campus). Simiso Biyela (Vredenburg Campus) was recognised in the Trade Business category.
The top two competitors in each category will advance to the regional competition at Northern Cape Rural TVET College in Upington on 7 August, where they will represent West Coast College against entrants from across the region.
Riaan Hoffman, deputy principal for Partnerships, Innovation and Development at West Coast College, said the institution aims to develop both employable skills and entrepreneurial thinking among students. He said the college remains committed to supporting entrepreneurship and helping students build sustainable businesses.
