Bonginkosi Leeuw and Lerothodi Molete are making waves in the world of innovation
Photo: Curtis Nhlamulo

Bonginkosi Leeuw and Lerothodi Molete, the co-curators of three TEDx events, were selected, along with 18 other influential youngsters, as South Africa’s Top 20 Under 25 by Fast Company Magazine. The University of the Free State (UFS) duo were recognised by the international magazine in its November issue.

Pepe Marais, the Chief Creative Officer of Joe Public United a Johannesburg-based communications agency, was so immensely impressed by these Kovsies’ entrepreneurial feats that he nominated them. Suffice to say that Fast Company was equally impressed.

Fast Company  is the world's leading progressive business media brand. Its content spotlights innovation in technology and leadership, among other subjects. It was launched 1995 by Alan Webber and Bill Taylor, the former editors of the world's most influential management magazine: Harvard Business Review.   

At 24 years of age, Leeuw and Molete have led the UFS community and the youth of Bloemfontein through TEDxUFS and TEDx@YouthNavalHill . They are also the co-founders of an online company named Slyza.com . The website “is a student commerce market where students who want to buy and sell products and services can find a central point to advertise,” Leeuw said.

It goes without saying that after just two years in the business of ideas and innovation, this duo is fast becoming an international sensation, along the likes of Wayde van Niekerk, who also formed part of the Top 20 list.  

Fast forward to the future

In 2016, Leeuw and Molete intend to launch TEDxBloemfontein. The conference is expected to host 1000 attendees, who will be addressed by some of the most prestigious international names in different fields.

Leeuw and Molete are also part of the exclusive list of TED organisers who will be attending the annual TEDGlobal l conference that takes place in Geneva, Switzerland from 5-10 December 2015. Molete believes that the conference will present an opportunity for them to “network with some of the best TED organisers in the world.”