UNISA Enterprise (Pty) Ltd (UE) was established in 2016 through a Council Resolution to consolidate all third-stream income initiatives. As part of this process, the Bureau of Market Research (BMR) was incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of UE.
As a 100% UNISA-owned entity, UE operates as a distinct legal entity separate from the university. Today, the UE Group of Companies—including BMR and UNISA Catering Services (UCS)—employs approximately 80 people and generates an annual revenue of around R50 million.
The university primarily relies on tuition fees and government funding for revenue. To achieve financial sustainability, it must diversify its income streams. UE is responsible for driving this third-stream income mandate, playing a critical role in supporting UNISA’s long-term financial stability and ensuring the continuation of quality education and development programs.
UE’s governance structure includes a Board of Directors consisting of 5-8 members, including representatives from the UNISA Council and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The Board oversees the company’s strategy, business activities, and operations across all its entities.
Dedicated to strong governance and financial integrity, UE has consistently received unqualified audit opinions since its inception. Through this structure, UE reports to UNISA on various operational and financial aspects, ensuring transparency and alignment with the university’s broader objectives.
Focus Areas
- Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD): We specialise in training, capacity building, and venture creation.
- Media Advisory Services: The division provides a range of services including Public Relations and Marketing, Printing, Media Buying and others.
- ICT: Through strategic partnerships with reputable original equipment manufacturers, UE delivers an array of ICT solutions and training services.
- Research and Innovation: BMR, a wholly owned subsidiary of Unisa Enterprise, stands as a leading research entity in South Africa.
- UNISA Catering Services (UCS): Unisa Enterprise, through its subsidiary Unisa Catering Services, operates catering facilities across multiple university campuses and offers catering services for events such as functions and conferences.
Unisa Enterprise; shaping the African future through skills enhancement, the elevation of creativity and innovation.
Our Vision
Shape the future by turning knowledge and ideas into tangible actions.
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Our Mission
Foster a collaborative culture in fast-forward world, with the focus is to drive real entrepreneurship and commercialisation by building a stronger network with the outside world. This means creating a deep connection with the community of industries – employees, customers, partners, academia and governments.
Our Values
• Agility
• Entrepreneurial
• Partnership
• Impact
• Innovation
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Value Proposition
The focus of UNISA Enterprise is to empower business, government, individuals and youth with sustainable solutions that can be used practically. By collaborating with key stakeholders through the exchange of ideas, we are determined to address societal needs and challenges.
Operational Model
Panel of Experts
Unisa Enterprise collaborates with experts from different fields to engage, and pinpoint specialized services that will cater for a wide variety of projects across multiple industries.
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Spin-off Companies
Ideas and projects that are incubated and become sufficiently developed are commercialized by Unisa Enterprise; these ideas and projects are housed in self sustaining entities and ultimately become a subsidiary of Unisa Enterprise.
Collaboration
In the event of a skills, industry experise and funding scarcity, Unisa Enterprise collaborates and partners with external parties through a mutual understanding and agreement that will ensure the delivery of skills and products.
Leadership
Mr. Lesetsa Matshekga
UNISA ENTERPRISE CEORead Profile
Lesetsa has more than 18 years of development finance and investment banking experience. He has served on boards and sub-committees of various companies.
He holds an MBA degree from Gordon Institute of Business Science, a BCom Hons degree from University of Cape Town, a BCom Hons degree and a BCom degree from University of Limpopo.
Ms. MPHO MTSI
BOARD MEMBERRead Profile
Mpho Mtsi is an actuary by profession, with more than a decade’s experience in financial services. Mpho is an Institutional Client Director at Old Mutual Investment Group. She was previously an investment associate on a mezzanine fund lending to small or medium-sized businesses in Southern Africa. In 2020, Mpho co-founded the IMA Nathi non-profit company, which provided technical assistance to largely women-led SMEs. Mpho was also a gender and business expert for Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, consulting for Value for Women Ltd (an international gender advisory firm). Mpho currently serves as a non-executive director on Just Share SA, a shareholder activist organisation seeking to make an impact with regards to climate change and inequality. In 2018, Mpho was awarded as one of the Mail and Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans.
Mr. Koketso Rampyapedi
BOARD MEMBERRead Profile
Mr. Koketso Rampyapedi – An accomplished industrial engineer with over a decade of experience, Koketso currently serves as the chief of staff to the CEO and head of strategy at Barloworld Equipment Southern Africa. His board experience spans various companies, and he is a member of the Institute of Directors South Africa.
Mr. Waseem Carrim
BOARD MEMBERRead Profile
Mr. Waseem Carrim – As a chartered accountant, Waseem brings nearly 15 years of professional experience. He held the positions of CEO and CFO at the National Youth Development Agency and has been a board member for entities such as the Youth Development Institute of South Africa, Brand South Africa, and the Mpumalanga Parks and Tourism Authority.
Some of Our Clients and Collaborations
