The University of Johannesburg’s Technology Transfer Office (UJ TTO) proudly hosted the 2025 Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Intervarsity Gauteng Regional Rounds on 22 and 23 July at the InnUvation Junction in Auckland Park. The two-day event brought together dynamic student entrepreneurs from five Gauteng-based universities to pitch their business ideas and research-driven innovations.

The EDHE Intervarsity competition is a prestigious national platform that identifies and showcases top student entrepreneurs from South Africa’s 26 public universities.

According to Dr Edwell Gumbo, EDHE Intervarsity Competition Director, the initiative is designed to foster a culture of entrepreneurship within the higher education sector.

“We aim to showcase the businesses that are currently being run by students. These businesses are post-revenue—so they are already making money. The competition is then a platform for them to tell their stories, showcase to other university students that it’s possible to be a student and run a sustainable business,” he said.

This regional event formed part of the broader national EDHE Intervarsity programme, providing students with an opportunity to gain valuable exposure and hands-on experience in entrepreneurship. Students competed across four key categories: Existing Business – General, Existing Business – Social Impact, Tech, and Research Commercialisation.

Participants from the University of Johannesburg (UJ), University of Pretoria (UP), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) pitched their ventures to panels of expert judges.

“Entrepreneurship is a tough, lonely, and often difficult journey. That’s why mentorship is critical—students need guidance from experts who have walked the path before them,” said Dr Hamilton Mphidi, Director of the UJ TTO. He emphasised the significance of competitions like this in offering students mentorship and practical business exposure.

Each university was represented by two participants per category, competing for a place at the national finals where Gauteng’s best will face off against their peers from across the country. The event also featured opening remarks by UJ and EDHE leadership, keynote addresses, pitching sessions, networking opportunities, and a tour of UJ’s state-of-the-art makerspace and innovation facilities.

The regional competition concluded with the announcement of winners who will represent Gauteng at the national EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity finals in November. Among the winners was UJ’s Kabelo Sebiloane, whose business Leano-La-Sechaba Waste Management and Consultancy LTD clinched the top spot in the Social Impact category.

Past EDHE National Winner Emmanuel Kiyonga (SMU, 2024) also shared his journey, reflecting on the opportunities that the programme has opened for him:

“I now run a fully registered, tax-compliant business that’s beginning to generate income. EDHE gave me global exposure I never imagined. My name is being mentioned in spaces I once thought were out of reach.”

Student participants echoed his sentiments, crediting the EDHE programme for shaping their entrepreneurial journeys, enhancing their business acumen, and connecting them with mentors and industry professionals.

Dr Phumuza Langa, Senior Manager and Commercial Analyst at UJ TTO, highlighted how the office’s work aligns with the institution’s long-term goals.

“At UJ, we’ve aligned our student entrepreneurship initiatives with our UJ Strategic Plan 2035, which focuses on increasing student-founded startups and enterprises. The EDHE Intervarsity Competition is an example of one such initiative. And we look forward to continuing with the work to empower UJ students,” he said.

Gauteng’s National Finalists for the 2025 EDHE Intervarsity Competition:

• Social Impact: Kabelo Sebiloane (UJ)
• General: Ramoagi Segone (TUT)
• Tech: Khanyisa Mokgolobotho and Rosemary Erawemen (SMU)
• Research Commercialisation: Nondumiso Nkosi (SMU)

Watch the highlights video here: