In an era where innovation is often synonymous with disruption, two young African creatives, Liyema Letlaka and Makomborero Mutezo, are proving that youth isn’t a barrier to excellence, but an amplifier of vision and ingenuity on a global stage.
At just 23, Liyema is reshaping the future of motorsport through the South African Endurance Series (SAES), while 24-year-old Makomborero’s successful enterprise, TheHungryMute, is making waves in the food world with his handmade brownies that are as intentional as they are decadent.
Liyema Letlaka: CEO, South African Endurance Series
At an age where many of us barely know which direction our lives will take, Liyema is redefining what leadership looks like in the high-octane world of motorsport.
Her journey began in the paddocks – quite literally.
She started racing at 10 years old, often the only girl – let alone black girl – on the track, competing against much older boys. Her passion was inherited: her father, Xolile Letlaka built South Africa’s first all-black endurance racing team.
Liyema started behind the scenes by assisting with logistics and operations, gaining hands-on experience within the SAES. From those early support roles Liyema worked her way up to roles in strategy and communications. By her early twenties, she was appointed CEO.
“Motorsport has always been my passion,” she says. After a serious accident at 13 kept her from competing, she found a new path in leadership. “I always knew I wanted to be in the sport, I just didn’t know how.”
Under her leadership, SAES isn’t just evolving, it’s becoming a catalyst. She advocates for educational outreach, partnerships with schools, and increased STEM pathways to bring more young people into motorsport, not just as drivers, but as engineers, dietitians, and technicians.
“We’re modernising, but I want it to still feel rooted in South Africa,” she says.
With the Kyalami racetrack’s upgrade to FIA Grade 1, Liyema sees an opportunity for SAES to align itself with global motorsport standards and gain visibility.
“Success is making space for people who look like me,” she says. Her fluency in digital culture, inclusion and innovation is not just refreshing — it’s exactly what the sport needs to thrive in the 21st century.
Makomborero Mutezo: Redefining Luxury, One Brownie at a time
Makomborero Mutezo, 24, is a name you won’t forget, not because he recently won the Capitec Rising Star Award at Decorex Cape Town, but because his brand, TheHungryMute, is changing the flavour of luxury, one brownie at a time.
The pastry chef is also a designer, thinker, and cultural archivist whose work lives at the intersection of food, memory, and African expression.
A formative moment in Germany changed everything. Sitting outside a café in Germany, he watched strangers interact with a croissantI. n that single moment, he became aware of the way a single product could carry multiple meanings depending on how it was presented, who received it, and the emotion it carried.
“I chose the brownie because it was a way I could uniquely translate my pain points: shelf life, branding, art direction, and packaging. But also, I love chocolate and I love cake. Why not combine the two?”
At the heart of TheHungryMute is a belief that African ingredients and culinary storytelling deserve to sit comfortably within the luxury space. Makomborero sources premium African-grown produce and blends it with techniques drawn from both fine dining and street culture.
His design training also gives him an edge: he creates his own packaging, brand visuals, and even the print artworks. His brownies are more than sweet treats; they’re design statements wrapped in carefully curated packaging layered with narrative. Signature items include the Pitori Chippie Box, which nods to Pretoria’s cultural legacy, and limited-edition artworks that double as collectables.
His win at the Capitec Rising Star Awards at Decorex was a milestone.
“I cried,” he admits. “It validated all the sacrifices.”
Now, Makomborero is committed to scaling the TheHungryMute, experimenting with product packaging, prints, and pop-ups that combine food and design experiences.
