Five Capetonians make Forbes 'dramatic' list

From chronic medication deliveries on bicycles to a substitute for a bath - young Cape Town entrepreneurs are on fire.

Early this year, Forbes released a list of 30 Africans under the age of 30 who are "making the most dramatic impact across the continent". Seven are from South Africa, five of whom are from the Mother City.

Tonight the city will host an event in their honour and will "link them up with key business contacts".

"It's my privilege to host these young entrepreneurs who not only advance the economic development of the city, but create much-needed jobs," said mayoral committee member for economic planning, Garreth Bloor.

The five stars include:

• Sizwe Nzima, the owner of Iyeza Express. He employs four men on bicycles to collect medication from hospitals in Khayelitsha and deliver it to patients' doorsteps for only R10.

"I had to collect my grandparents' medication from the day hospital before school. I would stand in long queues and would often be late for school," said Nzima.

Nzima hopes to expand his business to other areas on the Cape Flats.

• Ashley Uys, a biotechnologist and the founder of Medical Diagnostech. His company develops medical test kits.

It was his "quick malaria test" - which cost R4 - that saw him become a finalist in this year's Innovation Prize for Africa.

The kit resembles a home pregnancy test and needs "less than a drop of blood" to determine if you have contracted the disease.

• Ludwick Marishane, the founder of Headboy Industries. He developed the world's first germicidal bath-substituting lotion when he was at high school.

Today the company owns the patent for DryBath. In countries where clean water is scarce, the product is heaven-sent.

• Rapelang Rabana, co-founder of Yeigo Communications. Yeigo, according to Forbes, develops "software for telecoms-related services", including SMS and push e-mail services. Five years ago Telfree Group of Companies - a Swiss firm - acquired a majority stake in the company.

"This kind of strong support by major international brands is critical in building the next generation of entrepreneurs," said Rabana.

• Justin Stanford, founder and CEO of 4Di Group. Stanford acquired the exclusive distribution rights for ESET, a Slovakian anti-virus software package. According to Forbes: "Today, Stanford's ESET Southern Africa sells ESET's range of internet security products in about 20 sub-Saharan countries, recording over $10-million in annual turnover."