The Minister of Small Business Development, Lindiwe Zulu, momentarily side tracked from the serious matters of small business support to pay an emotional tribute to NAFCOC President, Lawrence Bhekinkosi Mavundla for a journey that took him from very humble beginnings in the streets of Johannesburg, to the polished boardrooms of South Africa.
Minister Zulu commended Mavundla for the hard work and his leadership qualities. She recalled meeting Mavundla way back, just after independence when he was a street hawker in the streets of Johannesburg while she was in the Gauteng legislature.
A serial entrepreneur, Mavundla has led NAFCOC for the past 6 years and has been involved in many business transactions over the past decade or so. He remains a consistent voice in the matters affecting small business, He is the Executive Chairman of Family. Best Buying Group, the first 100 percent black owned buying group in South Africa.
She pointed out that Family Best addresses the challenges being faced by township businesses including the matter of malls that are mushrooming in townships. Zulu also pointed out that the Family Best venture is a clear testimony of people taking action, “we have people who are saying it’s possible and we are going to do it’’.
In response to a question from the floor, Zulu said she viewed local structures of government as vital to support the small business sector and that the role of the national government was to create a more conducive environment for small business growth.
The minister emphasized the importance of supporting the growth of township businesses. “This partnership will go a long way in stabilising trade and healthy competition among township shop owners,” said Minister Zulu.
Mavundla is also the Chairman of Silver Vanity Investments, the company that owns the Pan African Parliament Building, situated at Gallagher estate in Midrand. And this is apart from the many directorships he holds in many different companies.
Family Best Buying Group is an initiative of The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its affiliate, ACHIB ( African Co-operative for Hawkers and Informal Businesses) who joined hands with Advance Cash and Carry, one of Gauteng’s biggest independent distributors of groceries and fast moving consumer goods. Advance Cash and Carry is owned by the entrepreneurial Kalla family, owners of Amka Products some of whose brands include Soft ‘n Free, Easywaves, Black like Me, Revlon among others.
