Limpopo entrepreneur eyes commercial breakthrough after Artisans national award
Limpopo-born business entrepreneur Martin Maupa hopes his victory as the 2026 Artisan of Mzansi, with prize money of R100 000, will facilitate the breakthrough he needs to commercialise his business.
Maupa is a 29-year-old diesel mechanic from Steelpoort in Limpopo, and he is the founder and owner of Maupa Engineering and Growth Edge (Pty) Ltd, located near the Lannex Mine in Fetakgomo Local Municipality.
With three and half years of experience in his trade, Martin has already distinguished himself as a forward-thinking entrepreneur in the country. His journey reflects resilience, creativity, and a passion for turning challenges into opportunities.
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Maupa won the 2026 Innovation category for his ferro bricks at the 2026 South African National Artisan Awards.
His innovative concept of manufacturing ferro bricks from waste materials embodies his vision of “turning waste into gold.”
Maupa dreams of his ferro bricks being available at top hardware stores across the country such as Build it, Cashbuild and Builders, as he aims to expand his business.
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“The recognition will accelerate my plans to have my bricks approved by the South African Bureau of Standards. This will be followed by automation of manufacturing increased capacity in order to greater responsiveness to retail demand,” Martin said.
“I think one of the things that is very close to my heart is exposure. as you try to grow as an artisanal entrepreneur, you realise that you can have all the tools and the skills, but you need to be in the right ecosystem.
“I believe going to pitch your business and getting exposure through the Artisans of Mzansi competition is very good exposure and you tend to learn a lot of things.
“It’s not about winning; it’s about putting yourself out there to your potential partners as well as mentors, investors, and people that might be interested in what you’re doing as an artisan,” says Maupa.
