Vacancy: Chief Financial Officer, NWDC
November 12, 2025
NWDC enhances enterprise spirit in Bethanie during Global Entrepreneurship Week - in partnership with Bakwena Ba Mogopa Community Development Foundation
BETHANIE VILLAGE – 19 NOVEMBER 2025.
A Rural Innovation and Enterprise Activation Week culminated in an interactive workshop, small business and services exhibitions coupled with a business pitching session at the Bethanie Tribal Hall.
The Bakwena Ba Mogopa Community Development Foundation (CDF) and the North West Development Corporation jointly hosted the event. The event forms part of the globally recognised Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), celebrated in over 200 countries annually.
Enterprise development and support institutions that participated on the day included the NWDC, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), National Consumer Commission (NCC), SARS, African Bank, Agricultural Research Council, North West University, North West Provincial Treasury as well as the LED Office of the Rustenburg Local Municipality.
Alongside the financial support presentations, the highlight of the day was the dynamic small business pitching session, accompanied by constructive feedback and business advice from the large panel of expert partners in attendance, which included the NWDC. The three local companies that pitched their businesses were: SaKoKo Foods (Powdered Vegetables), Kaone Unlimited (Apparel) and Basadi Farming (Piggery).
Renowned and established fashion designer, Kentse Masilo, is a home-grown talent from Bethanie. She was a finalist on Project Runway on Mzansi Magic, and today owns an established studio in Sandton, Gauteng. Kente graced the event, and when she spoke, her message inspired local entrepreneurs and creatives to believe that achieving dreams is possible.
The business community of Bethanie and its surrounding villages demonstrated just how many small business owners operate in this area, many of whom were exhibitors on the day.
A local youth-owned company named Bakwena TV joined the event and recorded a podcast of proceedings.
As the event concluded, Ms Sam Mudramuthoo, Acting Small Business Executive of the NWDC remarked: “It is so critical to form these kinds of partnerships as they provide more impact on the ground and enable us to collectively and effectively address the economic development needs of each community.”
“With this initiative we are aiming to demonstrate that rural communities should not only be viewed as mere beneficiaries of development; they are the drivers of innovation, enterprise, and economic transformation in their own right. We are building pathways where ordinary people can lead economic change; Rethinking, Reorganising & Reimagining Rural Economy”, said CDF Chairperson, Ms Pam Segakweng.
Quarterly, the North West Development Corporation has been hosting MSME workshops in the various districts of the North West Province. The day formed part of a planned small business support event and information-sharing workshop for the Bojanala Platinum District.
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Article by Annemarie Marx
NWDC Communication Specialist
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It is so critical to form these kinds of partnerships as they provide more impact on the ground and enable us to collectively and effectively address the economic development needs of each community
With this initiative we are aiming to demonstrate that rural communities should not only be viewed as mere beneficiaries of development; they are the drivers of innovation, enterprise, and economic transformation in their own right. We are building pathways where ordinary people can lead economic change; Rethinking, Reorganising & Reimagining Rural Economy
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- NWDC Small Business Development Manager, Mr Welane Wanzi (middle) and Bakwena Ba Mogopa CDF Chairperson, Ms Pam Segakweng (right) were interviewed by local youth-owned podcasters Bakwena TV.
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- Renowned and established fashion designer, Kentse Masilo, is a home-grown talent from Bethanie. She attended the event and gave an inspirational message to upcoming entrepreneurs.
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- Tebogo Hope Nyathela (right) from SaKoKo foods, was one of the local entrepreneurs who participated in the pitching session. Her company grows and manufactures dehydrated spinach powder for health-conscious consumers as well as dried morogo.
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- Karabo Tlhapane of Basadi Farming enterprise presented the business case of her piggery to the panel of experts.
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- Kaone Kgama Matlala from Kaone Unlimited: Apparel, pitching his brand to the panel of experts.
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- Ms Sam Mudramuthoo, Acting Small Executive, NWDC delivered opening and closing remarks.
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- Event coordinator, Mr Zeb Mothibi from the Bakwena Ba Mogopa Community Development Foundation (left) with NWDC’s Acting Small Business Executive, Ms Sam Mudramuthoo.
