Unisa has once again demonstrated its leadership in cultivating high-impact student innovators. Law student and entrepreneur Tumelo Ratala emerged as the winner in the Existing Business: General Category at the 2025 Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Intervarsity Competition. His achievement reinforces Unisa’s growing reputation as a national force in student entrepreneurship.

Ratala is the founder of TNTN Investments (trading as Drink & Print), a township-based enterprise, operating in Bochum, in the Limpopo Province. His innovation addresses persistent municipal water shortages and poor water quality by providing purified water, printing and scanning services, and ice products to local communities. The venture has already created employment for two young people, highlighting the contribution of township entrepreneurship to local development.

Ratala says: “I previously competed in this challenge without earning victory, but I did not give up. I re-entered the competition with a stronger product, and I won.” Expressing self-gratitude, he adds: “I also thank Unisa for believing in me. This victory means a lot to me as I previously had to drop out of university, but I returned and persevered.”

Ratala’s victory builds on Unisa’s momentum following the success of the 2024 EDHE Social Impact winner, Hope Mapheto, whose biodiesel enterprise, GreatFuel, continues to inspire emerging studentpreneurs.

Dr Brian Mahosi (Unisa CEMS), Lerato Maleka, Kerrisha Reddy, Dr Azwinndini Tshivhase, Tumelo Ratala, and Dr Wise Sambo (Unisa CEMS)

Unisa’s entrepreneurial talent was further showcased at the inaugural Absa Innovation Awards, where two Unisa student teams were ranked among the Top 20 finalists out of more than 600 entries. Biomedical Sciences students Kerrisha Reddy and Tristan Troy Devanand earned international recognition for their biodegradable ocean-cleaning orbs, a sustainable innovation that has already won multiple global awards. Additionally, Information Science student Lerato Maleka represented Unisa with Pathfyndr, a mental-health innovation enterprise that integrates accredited digital-skills training with artificial intelligence and virtual reality tools to advance youth wellbeing.

The inaugural Absa Innovation Awards further expanded the national landscape by identifying and supporting high-potential student innovations in sustainability, technology, health and social impact. Unisa’s finalists embody the university’s commitment to problem-solving, excellence, and socially responsive innovation.

These successes form part of the broader ecosystem created by the EDHE Programme. Established in 2016 by the Department of Higher Education and Training, and later incorporated into the University Capacity Development Programme, EDHE is aimed at building the entrepreneurial capacity of students, academics and institutional leaders across South Africa. The EDHE Intervarsity Competition remains the country’s flagship platform for student innovation and enterprise development.

Dr Azwindini Tshivhase, acting Vice-Principal of Teaching, Learning, Community Engagement and Student Support, commends the students and emphasises the need for increased institutional investment. “Studentpreneurship at Unisa must be strengthened and supported at the highest level, including by investing in student start-ups,” he remarks.  Tshivhase also commends Unisa academics for their excellent work, and calls for an institution-wide commitment to take studentpreneurship to the next level.

These accomplishments affirm that Unisa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is thriving and nationally competitive. They further demonstrate the university’s endeavour in strengthening its position as a leading incubator of African innovators. Tshivhase also attests that Unisa stands at a pivotal moment where enhanced institutional support can unlock even greater potential and propel student-led innovation to new heights.

* By Dr Wise Sambo, Senior Lecturer, Department of Applied Management, and Tebogo Mahlaela, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Economic and Management Sciences