By Puisano News Reporter
Kabelo Makhetha is the winner of the pitching competition to scale a business.
This Free State entrepreneur’s innovative business idea of tackling the safety risk and emotional toll on people living with dementia and their loved ones has won him R50 000 from Nedbank and Township Entrepreneurial Agency (TEA).
The pitching competition took place the course of TEA at this past weekend’s Free State leg of TEA Kasi Business Workshops held in Bochabela, Bloemfontein.
Kabelo’s journey to entrepreneurship is deeply personal. In 2017, his family began caring for his great-grandmother, who was living with dementia. As her condition progressed, she would often get lost, once walking nearly 20 kilometres before being found late at night. Kabelo and his family endured repeated searches until her passing in 2019, an experience that left an indelible mark on him.
When his grandfather later showed early signs of dementia, Kabelo channelled his grief and passion into innovation. Drawing on his design studies at the Central University of Technology (CUT) and mentorship from entrepreneurial development programmes, he created the Carelink Pendant, a necklace embedded with a QR code that stores the wearer’s identity, next-of-kin contacts, and home address. By simply scanning the pendant, caregivers and community members can help safely return lost individuals to their families.
South Africa faces a growing dementia crisis. According to Alzheimer’s South Africa, over 250 000 people are living with dementia nationwide, placing immense emotional and financial strain on households, especially in underserved communities. Kabelo’s innovation offers a lifeline not only for patients but for families struggling with the daily challenges of caregiving.
With the R50 000 prize, which includes cash, business support and a Nedbank point-of sale device from Nedbank, Kabelo plans to scale production beyond per-order manufacturing by procuring silver, branding packaging, and acquiring equipment to mass produce the pendants. He also aims to collaborate with other jewellers to embed Carelink’s technology into earrings, bracelets, and rings, broadening access to the innovation.
The official launch of the Carelink Pendant will take place on 20–21 September 2025 through an initiative called Carementia, which raises awareness about dementia and showcases solutions that support patients and families.
Buli Ndlovu, Executive Head of Marketing in Nedbank’s Personal and Private Banking cluster elaborates that “entrepreneurship at its best solves real problems that improve lives. Kabelo’s innovation not only honours his personal story, but it addresses one of South Africa’s pressing health challenges in dementia.
At Nedbank, we believe small businesses are the backbone of thriving communities, which is why we are committed to empowering entrepreneurs with the resources and support they need to turn their ideas into sustainable solutions. Kabelo’s journey is a reminder that when we invest in entrepreneurs, we invest in progress for society as a whole.”
Speaking on his win, Kabelo says “the TEA pitching competition pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it gave me the platform to showcase a solution that was born out of my family’s struggle and is now ready to serve society. What makes TEA special is that it takes place right in the heart of our communities, where entrepreneurs like me live and work. I am grateful to my mentors and to Nedbank for believing in township entrepreneurs.”
Since 2021, Nedbank has partnered with the Township Entrepreneurs Alliance (TEA) to deliver Kasi Business Workshops which are practical sessions designed to help township businesses set clear goals, analyse their markets, implement effective strategies, and enhance decision-making. These workshops offer hands-on guidance from experienced mentors, networking opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs, and access to valuable resources.
Each session includes facilitated “Hacking Networking”, where businesses collaborate to develop solutions for community challenges, as well as Masterclasses aligned with the workshop theme, all aimed at supporting business growth and continuous learning.
TEA spokesperson Thato Malebo said to date, Nedbank and Tea have hosted workshops in 38 townships across all nine provinces, positively impacting over 100 000 township SMMEs. We have equipped more than 600 small business exhibitors at workshops with Nedbank point-of-sale devices and facilitated procurement opportunities for over 300 black youth-owned service providers. Our ongoing efforts remain focused on delivering inclusive, accessible banking enriched with practical business education and contextual engagement within township communities.
