Isaac Moledi

Isaac Moledi

Ndaba Ntsele, chief executive of Pamodzi Investment Holdings, is among 40 finalists from around the world to compete for the global title of this year's Ernst and Young prestigious World Best Entrepreneur Awards Programme in Monte Carlo.

Ntsele will join 40 finalists for the title in June next year.

Ntsele, a Soweto-born entrepreneur, won the best entrepreneur category of the Ernst and Young South Africa chapter last November.

"It is truly an honour to be nominated for such an award. I feel proud to be standing here representing all Africans and showing that all dreams are achievable," Ntsele said

His entrepreneurial spirit sprung from humble beginningswhen he helped his aunt to sell peanuts, apples and bananas on the streets of Soweto at the tender age of six. He later sold newspapers in Hillbrow, enabling him to buy his first car during his matric year.

Ntsele was an early entrant in the construction industry and founding Pamodzi Property Developers in 1985.

This set the foundation for further growth, and in 1996 he founded Pamodzi Investment Holdings, a black-owned and controlled investment company.

Last year saw Pamodzi Resources Fund raise R9,8 billion worth of funding, creating Africa's largest private equity fund. Ntsele's vision is to create a R5 billion market-cap firm by next year.