In March 2015, Bulelani Balabala, had a dream: to create an inclusive space where township entrepreneurs could be seen, heard and supported.
The first Kasi Business Workshop was held the following July in a local community hall in Tembisa. Today it is a national force of transformation and a blueprint for township economic inclusion. It has gone global with attendee participation from Australia, Zambia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho, to name a few.
The Kasi Business Workshop is a full-day experience of connection, collaboration and growth that is deeply rooted in the spirit of ubuntu.
Key Achievements from the Kasi Business Workshops
A decade of impact has achieved the following numbers:
- Over 100 000 township entrepreneurs in South Africa have been helped.
- Supported entrepreneurs who contributed to over 400 000 jobs
- Built a global footprint spanning 34 countries
- Developed 467 local black youth-owned business suppliers.
- Created 3 321 youth job opportunities.
- Built a national footprint in 124 townships and rural communities.
Kasi Pitching Challenge
The Kasi Pitching Challenge launched in 2022 in Daveyton. It gives township entrepreneurs get the opportunity to pitch for R50 000 in both cash and business support. To date, the challenge has distributed over R2,5 million in direct funding and empowered 40 township business winners. This year, 2025, will be the third installment of this business and will continue to amplify the voices and ventures of township entrepreneurs across 36 different communities in the form of a road show.
The road show’s 37th stop has just wrapped up in Galeshewe, Northern Cape, and will be heading next to the community of Bochabela, Free State.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be a business based in and operating within a township.
- Must have been in operation for 2+ years.
- Must have all required compliance documents.
- Must be South African-owned, be Level 1 BBBEE, and classified as a micro enterprise.
Measurable Impact in South African Townships
The Kasi Business Workshop has become a symbol of what is possible when township entrepreneurs are seen, supported and celebrated. As a part of this platform, Kasi Business Exhibition was created to provide Kasi businesses the opportunity to showcase their trades.
Exhibitors are equipped with a portable card payment solution, enabling them and generate income on the day of the workshop. Each exhibition table tells a story of resilience and creativity, a powerful reminder that township entrepreneurs are not waiting for opportunities; they are building them.
Some previous exhibitors include:
- Makatu Tshivhula, founder of The Light Candles,
- Tlhabane’s Gladys Katane, founder of Larona Toilet Hire,
- Rosina Masetla, founder of Tau Royal Entertainment;
- Nonkanyiso Msomi, founder of Nonkanyiso Funeral Services;
- Colin Mkosi, founder of Cloudy Deliveries, and
- Vutlhari Maphophe, founder of Papa Jone’s Café.
This part of the Kasi Business Workshop provides a platform for township businesses to showcase their trades
More than an Exhibit or Workshop
The Kasi Workshop is more than just a masterclass for township entrepreneurs.
It also features a networking pod, Mbawula Chat (conversations with successful entrepreneurs), and a masterclass.
Together with the exhibition, these three elements form the four pillars of what the Kasi Business Workshop is all about. It is a space for businesses to learn, connect, and launch into a successful kasi enterprise.
The Kasi Business Workshop thank everyone who has walked this journey with them. “Your belief, your resilience and your participation have been the heartbeat of this movement. A decade in, and the Kasi Business Workshop is only just beginning,” their statement concludes.
