All three received a car from Chevrolet for making it to the final episode.

The prize money will be invested in Makinane’s business, Apex Commercial Solutions, which through an initiative called Mzanzi Digital uses information communications technology systems to help those in previously disadvantaged communities in the North West. He intends spreading the technology through municipalities, the district and eventually through the province and the country. “I want to help make the country digital,” he says.

His strategy has been to dream big, but start small. “One must lay a firm foundation for growth in order to manage your own growth. Also you must spare time to get to know your business before appointing others to do work for you. You must master all the tasks.”

Ifthakaar Shaik made the final four but was unable to attend and participate in the final showdown because of business commitments and therefore had to withdraw from the competition.

Over the course of the last few months, the contestants who have been battling it out on the show, have been tasked with everything from thinking out of the box to developing strategic business and marketing plans and using the valuable resource of time to their benefit. For the first time the show went international with an episode of The Big Break Legacy being filmed in London.

Says the show’s creator and judge, Ezra Ndwandwe, “This has been the best season yet. With the programme going international, we can now look forward to adding value to South African entrepreneurs and exposing them to what other business people are doing. We need to continue the education beyond television and strengthen all efforts that seek to advance economic development through the commercialisation of innovation. The bottom line is; we need to create businesses in order to decisively respond to the plight of poverty and unemployment. We all have it in us to contribute and we should not be waiting for government to develop solutions that we can develop ourselves.”

The other judge was South African businesswoman, social entrepreneur and author Wendy Luhabe.

Besides revealing Makinane as the winner during the final episode, The Big Break Legacy also announced a partnership between itself and the Southern African Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (SANEC). Season three of The Big Break Legacy will be aired after the World Cup in 2014.

Says Ryan Gould, GM of Brand and Communications at MTN SA, one of the sponsors of the show: “With a passion for local entrepreneurial and SME development, MTN Business is one of the main sponsors of The Big Break Legacy show, and with Season 2 coming to an end, we extend congratulations to the winner of this season. Our sponsorship of the R5-million business investment first prize, forms part of our overall market effort’s to positively impact the growth of business locally.”

“Season 2 has been a great success where we believe it has not only inspired the top 12 contestants, but other South African entrepreneurs to start thinking creatively and beyond the ordinary. Our hope is that through efforts like The Big Break Legacy new businesses continue to develop that will positively impact the economy,” he added.

The Big Break Legacy first made its appearance on South African TV screens in February 2012. It aims to start a global revolution of entrepreneurs that build new enterprises which are innovative, exciting, sustainable and, most importantly, contribute meaningfully towards the social development of communities and fighting joblessness.

The Big Break Legacy has been made possible thanks to MTN the title sponsor, the dti, IDC, GIBS, Productivity SA, Foschini, Markham, Google, Brand SA, Chevrolet, SABC2 and the Department of Trade and Industry with support from CNBC and Independent Newspapers.

For more information, visit www.thebigbreaklegacy.com.