A DECADE OF VISION, RESILIENCE, AND GROWTH

In 2025, Sky Tents proudly celebrates its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of determination, innovation, and entrepreneurial excellence under the leadership of founder and CEO, Isaac Mbatha. What began in 2015 as a humble venture in tent repairs and smallscale rentals has evolved into one of South Africa’s most dynamic tent manufacturing and event solutions companies, with a footprint reaching across the African continent. Mbatha’s journey epitomises the grit and resilience of a true entrepreneur.

Starting out by washing and mending tents, he quickly recognised the opportunity to create a manufacturing business that would meet the growing demand of clients who had experienced his reliability firsthand. With little more than determination and a vision, Sky Tents was born, a name chosen to reflect his belief that “there is nothing above the sky,” symbolising limitless potential. The early years were not without obstacles.

With slim profit margins and heavy reliance on 50% deposits to purchase materials, Mbatha personally walked the streets, distributing flyers at traffic lights and in townships to build his customer base.

At times, he risked his safety alone in remote areas, all in pursuit of his dream. “What you plan for in your head and what happens on your road to success are two different things,” he recalls. In 2015 and 2016, mounting debt and overwhelming stress pushed him to his lowest point. But instead of giving up,Mbatha picked himself up and embraced bravery as his path forward. A turning point came in 2017 with a bold partnership with Ukhozi FM. Mbatha spearheaded a campaign to give away 100 tents to aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to start their own rental businesses.

This initiative not only uplifted communities but also cemented Sky Tents as a brand associated with opportunity and impact. Today, Sky Tents employs more than 75 people, a dramatic leap from its early team of three. The company’s product line has expanded from basic pole tents to an extensive range including stretch tents, dome tents, frame tents, and complementary event essentials such as tables, chairs, mobile toilets, and refrigerated trailers. Branches in nine South African locations and clients in over ten African countries, including Namibia, Nigeria, and the Seychelles, reflect the company’s farreaching influence. Mbatha’s commitment to innovation and service excellence has earned him significant recognition.

He was featured on the prestigious Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list in 2019, won the Standard Bank KZN Top Business Entrepreneur award for resilience in 2022, and was honoured as Standard Bank’s SME Client of the Year in 2023. As Sky Tents enters its second decade, Mbatha attributes the company’s success to one core principle: consistency. “Tired rhymes with fired,” he says.

“You need to be on top of your game at all times. Clients value not only your products but also your service and the confidence you bring.” From a modest start to a continental presence, Sky Tents’ 10year journey is a powerful story of vision meeting perseverance.

For Isaac Mbatha, the sky has never been the limit, it has always been the beginning.

For more information contact:

A: 47 Westmead Road, Pinetown

T: +27 (0)31 700 2863

C: +27 (0)76 929 2609

W: www.skytentsa.co.za