‘KK’ Combi, The Business Guru

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

GUGULETHU multi-millionaire entrepreneur Zitulele Luke ‘KK’ Combi has come a long way.

Born in Retreat of Cape Town, Mr. Combi is one the people who has proven that we can all achieve greatness through perseverance.

And at the height of Apartheid after the hated Group Areas Act of the 1950s came into being (the Act forced non-whites away from affluent areas of South Africa into under-serviced townships), KK and his family were forcibly removed from Retreat to the township of Gugulethu in Cape Town where he grew up.

Without warning, they and their household goods were unceremoniously loaded onto a flat bed truck and dumped in Gugulethu. This experience was common to other non-whites throughout South Africa.

Mr. Combi’s determined spirit manifested itself early on when his admittedly autocratic leadership of the school debating team earned him the nickname “KK” after the flamboyant but autocratic former Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda. The name has stuck with him.

And for his tertiary education, Mr. Combi went to the Damelin College where he studied Public Relations & Career History.

Mr. Combi worked at Old Mutual for a year, where he was awarded Salesman of the Year. After this, he decided to follow his dreams.

He then opened a self service café in Gugulethu, which was forced to close in 1985 due to unrest in the township as delivery trucks couldn’t access the café.

In 1989, he developed the first service station in Guguletu.

And then in 1994, he developed the R45 million Nyanga Junction Development. A business complex that continues to serve many areas of Cape Town and elsewhere.

This was followed by a R20 million Ultra City Engen One Stop he developed in King Williamstown in 1995.

Also, in 1995 he started Master Currency with 2 branches.

Still in 1995, Mr. Combi traveled to the United Kingdom in search of ideas. While visiting a London foreign exchange bureau, it occurred to him that hordes of tourists would be flocking to see the miracle nation, South Africa. They would all need the services of a foreign exchange bureau. For the next couple of days he stood by the doorway of a London exchange bureau to observe proceedings. It wasn’t long before the bureau manager spotted him and called him in.

On discovering that he was from South Africa. The manager wanted news on South Africa’s transition Apartheid to democracy and Combi offered to give it to him in exchange for an insight into the world of foreign exchange transactions. “It wasn’t easy to comprehend initially,” Combi admits. However, a week later he got the hang of the business.

The company now employs 250 people at 20 branches in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban. With a gross annual turnover of R2 billion, it is ranked third in the industry and commands 12% market share. “Look out for opportunities, they are always there waiting to be discovered,” says Combi.

Combi is also said to be a man of firsts. He was the first person in South Africa to be granted a foreign exchange licence; the first black South African to win the local Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur award in 2000; the first South African to be crowned World Entrepreneur for Managing Change in 2001 in Monte Carlo; and the first black South African appointed as a judge for the World Entrepreneur Competition in 2002.

Combi is also a Director on the Main Board of Massmart,   Chairman  of Sustainability Committee at Massmart, Regional Board of ABSA (Western Cape),  Master Coin (Pty) Ltd,  Vat Refund Administrators, Combi & Co. (Pty) Ltd,  Member of SA Institute of Directors,  Member of the World Entrepreneur Academy, Member of World CEO Organisation.

His community involvement has seen him building a school including community outreach programmes, among others.

AWARDS

Achievers Award in the Business Category | SABC 2 Tribute Magazine | 2003

Award for Recognition of Outstanding Achievement in Marketing | Institute of Marketing Management | 2001

Business Personality of the Year Award | Cape Times | 2001

World Entrepreneur for Managing Change | 2001

SA Entrepreneur of the Year | 2000

Cape Business Personality of the Year

Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Managing Change | World Entrepreneur Summit

South Africa's Best Entrepreneur

Salesman of the Year | Old Mutual

MZOLI'S PLACE

Mzoli's Place. Photo courtesy Julian Knutzen

A MEAT-LOVERS DREAM

Enjoy good food and great company at Mzoli's Place. Photo courtesy of Wayne Taylor

Mzoli’s Place, situated just outside Cape Town in the township of Gugulethu, is known for its vibrant parties, diverse patronage and, of course, its signature meat.

Kwa-Mzoli, as locals call it, is the ideal place to introduce oneself to township culture, the friendly people, big personalities, street fashion and the partying that never stops.

A TASTE OF LOCAL CULTURE

Mzoli's Place is the perfect spot to visit to experience a taste of township life. Photo courtesy of Cape Town Tourism

Incorrectly referred to as a shebeen because alcohol is also consumed there, Mzoli’s Place started as a butchery with ashisa nyama (a local term used to describe an informal barbecue at a butchery), but has expanded to include live entertainment, music and a bar. If you are on the lookout for the latest andhottest South African acts, then Mzoli’s Place is your destination. Well-known DJs and bands regularly play there and it is the after-party venue for many of the cultural happenings in Cape Town.

BRING AND BRAAI

The highlight of Mzoli’s Place, however, is the meat, which is braaied (barbecued) on the premises with its signature secret mix of herbs and spices. Patrons need to bring their own beverages, crockery and cutlery. Mzoli’s provides the meat and the excellent party atmosphere and you bring the rest.

SUNDAY FUNDAY

There's no need to bring and braai at Mzoli's Place, which doubles as a butchery. Photo courtesy of Cape Town Tourism

Mzoli’s Place is a great spot to end off your week. Sundays are usually the best days to go, as the music is live and the locals happy. Get there early as the queues usually wind around the block and parking is limited. Book a shuttle directly from your accommodation; it’s convenient and will definitely be needed after all the alcohol you’ll probably consume!

Bookings for large groups are essential.Contact Mzoli’s Place on +27 (0)21 638 1355. Visit Mzoli’s Meat on Facebook

Check out our blog for some awesome pics and a first-hand account of a Mzoli’s experience.

SOURCE: Cape Town Tourism

Wendy Luhabe, Has Built A Legacy

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

Wendy Luhabe, is an accomplished businesswoman, social entrepreneur and author.

She has pioneered many initiatives for the economic empowerment of women and their participation in South Africa’s economic landscape.

Luhabe is deeply engaged in many sectors, including education, youth leadership development, and business, for which she is the Chairwoman and Director of a number of leading companies in diverse industries.

After working for 10 years for corporations internationally Luhabe decided to dedicate her life to empower African women in business.

She was born on 29 May 1957, Daveyton, Gauteng Province, South Africa, and grew up in the old Benoni location.

Luhabe graduated in Arts from the University of Fort Hare (1977) and in Commerce from the University of Lesotho (1981).

After 10 years of national and international corporate experience with BMW, she founded “Bridging the Gap” in 1991, a consulting firm working on both sides of the corporate equation: On the one hand to prepare young Black South Africans to enter the world of work, on the other hand to support South African companies on how to integrate them into their corporate business.

Mostly, Mrs Luhabe is known for her vision in founding the Women Investment Holdings (WIPHOLD) in 1993: initiating the participation of women in the economic landscape of South Africa. She launched the first fund to provide capital to women-owned businesses in South Africa with a R120 million private equite fund.

She was awarded as one of the 50 Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World and Global Leader of Tomorrow of the World Economics Forum; and inaugurated as a Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg in 2006.

Luhabe was appointed Honorary Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) in the 2014 New Year Honours for her services as a trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation.
Wendy Luhabe’s defining moment:

“In my early 20’s my father gave me the best gift of my life, a book by Dr Wayne W. Dyer called “Your Erroneous Zones” which was about taking responsibility to change one’s circumstances. This book taught me, at an early age, that no one oppresses us or abuses us without our permission and that in life we either choose to be a victim, or to change our circumstances. By the time I was 25 I knew that I am responsible for my life and that any choices I make have consequences. So I decided to approach life by creating my own rules and making the kinds of choices that support my aspirations.“

Luhabe is married to the former premier of Gauteng Province, Mbhazima Shilowa, they have 2 sons and a grandson.

Furthermore, Luhabe is also the Chair of the Women Private Equity Fund and is on the Board of IMD Business School, and she was recently appointed by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the newly-formed International Council on Women’s Business Leadership.

Luhabe is also an active mentor, accomplished author and powerful role model who is known for her writing and speaking engagements. She is a passionate ambassador for entrepreneurship as a platform to transform society.

Her work include Wendy Luhabe: Defining moments. University of Kwazulu Natal Press, 2002, ISBN 978-1-86914-020-5.

Source: http://www.wendyluhabe.com/

Felicia Mabuza-Suttle's New Book: 'Live Your Dream' Something Special

Ignore the critics and thrive

2015-10-07 16:47

icon with a microphone Felicia Mabuza-Suttle today lives in America, where she hosts a talk show on The Africa Channel and runs an executive leadership training and business communications company, Leadership Success International, while holding sh

Live Your Dream by Felicia Mabuza-Suttle

Victory International Publishers

220 pages

R225

When you are doing what you know and believe is right, you can withstand a tornado of criticism. Ignore the critics who just stand on the sidelines, finding fault, doing nothing that makes any real and constructive change in the world.

I tried to create change in South Africa with a microphone. My colleagues and I got South Africa talking through The Felicia Show. Many South Africans still tell me they miss the show, which allowed “ordinary” people to share their views in the new democratic climate of the time.

Many supporters of my show said: “You are ahead of your time. Your good work will be understood later.” These words have been proven true.

Some of our harshest critics now tell me how effective the show was and how urgently it is needed in South Africa today due to the numerous allegations of corruption, crime and related social injustices. The Felicia Show could have tapped into this new political discourse.

The show challenged the status quo in South Africa, especially the legacy of past injustices in the lives of individuals. For the first time, blacks and whites were openly debating and challenging each other on television. Some of the debates were quite heated as highly contentious issues were raised.

Some debates dealt with race relations. A number of whites had not accepted reality and remained unwilling to give up or share power. Other topics focused on young people who questioned traditional customs such as lobola ... or the practice of polygamy.

I recall walking through the airport one day when a white man shouted, “Go back home, Yankee!” His outburst referred to the fact that I had lived in America for many years, yet I returned to South Africa to encourage open debate about issues that seemed to frighten some people.

The man’s demeanour seemed to say: “How dare you!” especially since during apartheid, blacks were forced to be subservient and expected to pander to the baas, “the master’s voice”.

I often listened to radio talk shows and it amused me that so many white South African women were baffled by this “assertive American woman dressed in Escada outfits”. It was 1994, and most of those women were only accustomed to dealing with black women in the roles of maids or nannies.

I was a complete enigma to them.

I often felt I was not winning either way – with whites, or sometimes, even blacks. Most black men criticised me for allowing debates that questioned the widely practised African traditions of lobola and polygamy, and patriarchal customs that held women back, professionally and personally.

But it was not my role to influence opinion on those topics. I simply provided a platform for people to voice their own opinions. Because of my years abroad, my critics saw me as an instigator and someone who was out of touch with the realities of African customs.

Since we were all subjected to the same prejudices, I was convinced my support would come from black women. However, that proved to be untrue, particularly for one sector of South African women. The criticism from mostly black professional women was the harshest. I would hear them spew their hurtful, venomous words on radio talk shows.

But as one professional woman admitted during an interview: “Most are just envious and jealous that they were not able to do what you did,” adding “They’re jealous, jealous, jealous.”

My biggest support came from the youth who voted me a “most admired role model” in many surveys. I still get a large number of emails from young people. A sampling of some of those emails are included at the back of this book.

That support was heartwarming because it was a sure sign of a promising future for our country, with potential leaders who were willing to allow for free and open debate on topics most important to South Africans.

Free and open debate will make South Africa strong and will keep the old, oppressive ways of apartheid at bay.

The more people challenge you, criticise you or condemn you, the more you are on the right track.

Stay focused, keep your eyes on your mission. You are here on earth for a purpose. Fulfil your reason for being. Allow criticism to energise you to action and propel you to even greater heights

BIOGRAPHY: Zipho Sikhakhane: Providing Entrepreneurship Wisdom

Zipho Sikhakhane is a motivational speaker, writer and businesswoman.

Zipho was born and raised in a small township in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Through hard work and determination, she overcame the challenges faced by young people from underprivileged communities. She uses her inspiring life story to influence others towards leading meaningful lives.

Education ~ Zipho’s education background includes a Business Science honors degree from the University of Cape Town in South Africa and a Masters in Business Administration from the Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business in the United States. She completed her bachelors and masters on full scholarship and was also awarded merit scholarships.

Professional ~ Zipho has worked for a number organisations during her young career. She has worked on various organisational transformations in Sub-Saharan Africa as a Management Consultant at McKinsey & Company, the most prestigious management consulting firm globally. She has also worked for few retail companies as a Project Manager. Example experience includes being a Strategic Project Manager for the biggest clothing, footwear and textiles group in Southern Africa, and being an International Project Manager in Spain for one of the largest retail groups in the world. Zipho has worked in 7 countries across 5 continents.

Entrepreneurship ~ Zipho is passionate about business and has created a number of small entrepreneurial projects since childhood. She believes in helping businesses thrive across and beyond the African continent. To contribute to this, she invests in high potential African entrepreneurs in her personal capacity. She is also seeking to acquire small and medium sized businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa that have high growth potential.

Publications ~ She writes on Entrepreneurship on the Sunday Times in South Africa and has been profiled in leading magazines and newspapers. Examples include Destiny Magazine and African Scholar. She has also been published in Singapore as a contributing author on Sushi & Tapas: Bite-size Personal Stories from Women Around the World. She was interviewed live on TV on Channel News Asia about this book.

Speaking and coaching ~ Zipho is an accomplished motivational speaker and has presented to audiences in 5 continents. She has delivered inspiring talks and poetry on topics related to Africa’s potential, entrepreneurship, leadership, youth and women empowerment. She also delivered a TED Talk on the Vision for Africa. She also enjoys coaching individuals and groups on communication and leadership topics.

Hobbies ~ Zipho enjoys travelling, cooking, hiking and meditating. She has traveled to 28 countries in 9 years. She gets inspiration from meeting people from all walks of life. Her most memorable moment was when she got the opportunity to meet Oprah Winfrey!

For more information on Zipho Sikhakhane you can visit  www.ziphosikhakhane.com

SOURCE: ziphosikhakhane.com

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