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< Back Next Mark Bielovich Mark Bielovich is the group chief executive officer of BMS Foods Mark Bielovich is the group chief executive officer of BMS Foods, a business born from family ties, that has grown over the decades through astute business acumen, unwavering vision and hard work. This KwaZulu-Natal based company is a leader in the processing and retail of meat products. As CEO, Mark manages the three arms that make up BMS Foods. BMS Properties manages the company’s property assets. Gen4Foods specialises in meat processing and supplies supermarkets nationally with high-quality products including polony and viennas. The retail division, Bluff Meat Supply, is made up of 26 stores across KZN. Mark says that a business is only as strong as its weakest link, stating that he is grateful for the commitment and hard work of his partners. The humble beginnings of this company stem back over one hundred years. In 1916, Mark’s grandfather Joe Bielovich, traveled by boat from Croatia to South Africa where he started a small butchery in Brakpan. The family subsequently moved to Durban in the mid-1950s.. In 1960 Joe opened a butchery on the Bluff, which was the start of the present-day Bluff Meat Supply. He retired shortly afterwards and was succeeded by Mark’s father, Marco, who ran the business until the mid-1970s. This business became part of a bigger company, Wholesome Meats, who were the leading meat company in KZN at that time. In 1980 Mark joined Wholesome Meats as an apprentice butcher. He was sent abroad to train as a master butcher in the Stuttgart area of Germany. The two years that he spent overseas had a profound effect on his work ethic and overall business outlook. Mark explained, “I worked for Henrich Mack, a German master butcher. He was a strict man who always sought perfection. We worked hard and had long hours – 90 hours a week. He watched everything closely including overheads like the cost of energy. As a young apprentice, the high standards and sound business practices rubbed off on me. I continue to try instill those same values in my partners and in our employees at work.” In early 1984, Mark and his twin brother Bruce started a small butchery in Pinetown called Mndeni Meats. In 1986 the brothers purchased Bluff Meat Supply back from Wholesome Meats. Later that year, Tony Robinson joined the business as a partner. Under Bruce, Mark and Tony’s leader- ship, the business grew. Unfortunately, in 1991 Bruce sadly passed away in a motor vehicle accident. Mark and Tony continued to lead by example working long hours and to the highest standard. At this time, each butchery store operated as a separate entity that made up the larger company. The success of each store was thus largely dependent on the leadership of the branch managers who were incentivised by being made partners in the business. In 2000 the company purchased their first factory to expand into processed meats. In 2007 an additional factory was built in Springfield Park with another larger factory following in 2012. That same year the company took on an equity partner, RMB Ventures, which proved to be successful for both parties. STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE Speaking of his successes, Mark says that he is driven by striving for excellence in all spheres of business. “It gives me great pleasure when I walk into a store and everything is laid out neatly, counters correctly packed and staff correctly dressed. That is a win and that’s what we as a business are striving for – to always better the customer shopping experience – and to consider all aspects of the service offered. That is what I call accomplishment.” While the business has grown over the years, this has not been without challenges. Currently, says Mark, finding appropriately trained and highly skilled store management is difficult. The business has thus sought to identify people with potential and train them internally. Mark added that the looting that occurred in KZN in 2021 had a large impact on their company with eight stores damaged, one store burnt, and a large factory burnt down. “This was probably the single biggest catastrophe in our business’s history. But as with most South Africans, we too are resilient. Most effected stores were back up and running within a few days. The last one had to be rebuilt, which took a year. The factory took five months to restore, which was an excellent accomplishment,” elaborates Mark. THE HARD YARDS Speaking of advice to people entering into business, Mark highlights the importance of doing ‘the hard yards’. “I have found that many young people today don’t fully grasp the commitment required for success, you need to be persistent, success doesn’t come overnight.” Mark’s father has always been a source of inspiration for him. “My father wasn’t flashy and he valued hard work, loyalty, honesty and family. I had the benefit of sitting around the supper table and speaking about business in general with him. My own son has joined our business and through his commitment I see that I have passed on the same values and business outlook.” In terms of factors that influence success, Mark commented that managing expenditure is important. “I call the business the ‘golden goose’. That’s what’s going to make your wealth, not the Porsche in your garage. Get your business on a good footing and pay off all your debts. In the beginning, if we couldn’t pay cash for a luxury, we didn’t buy it.” He added, “You’ve got to be passionate about what you’re doing. You need to conduct your business ethically and honestly. I aspire to ensure that the business’s brand is loved, successful and one that people look up to.” Mark explains the overall management of a business is what is responsible for creating a successful business. “Life is about choices – a great deal of it is up to you. You need to make the best possible decisions and hopefully they are the right decisions.” Mark’s key motto is: “There’s no bad business, only bad management.” Living by example, Mark is proof that this motto holds true. Previous Next

ND Engineering (Pty) Ltd is a leading South African steel fabrication company with over five decades of experience. Founded in 1969 as Durban Engineering, the company originally focused on serving the pulp and paper industry.ND Engineering (Pty) Ltd ND Engineering (Pty) Ltd is a leading South African steel fabrication company with over five decades of experience. Founded in 1969 as Durban Engineering, the company originally focused on serving the pulp and paper industry. TURNKEY ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS ND Engineering (Pty) Ltd is a leading South African steel fabrication company with over five decades of experience. Founded in 1969 as Durban Engineering, the company originally focused on serving the pulp and paper industry. Over the years, it under- went various ownership changes, becoming part of Sunds Defibrator and later Metso Corporation. In 2013, Elvis Green took full ownership, restoring the name ND Engineering and positioning the company as a key player in the local and international steel fabrication markets. Infrastructure and Capabilities Operating from a vast 16,500 m² facility in Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal, ND Engineering is equipped with cutting-edge technology that ensures it can meet the most demanding industry standards. The facility features cranes with a lifting capacity of up to 100 tonnes, enabling the fabrication of large-scale, high precision steel products. Advanced plasma cutting machinery allows for accurate shaping and processing of steel materials, while automated welding technology ensures consistent, high-quality welds. This state-of-the-art setup makes ND Engineering highly efficient in fabricating products like pressure vessels, storage tanks, heat exchangers, and mechanical equipment. With this infrastructure, the company is capable of delivering solutions to a wide range of industries, including mining, petrochemical, sugar, paper, and fertiliser sectors. Services ND Engineering’s services go beyond standard steel fabrication, offering a comprehensive, turnkey solution that spans from design and engineering to installation and maintenance. This approach allows the company to partner with clients from the early stages of a project, ensuring that all aspects of production, delivery, and installation are managed efficiently. Some of the key services provided by ND Engineering include: Fabrication of specialised equipment: ND Engineering fabricates pressure vessels, heat exchangers, storage tanks, distillation columns, and reactors, ensuring all products meet rigorous industry standards. These components are critical for industries that require precise, high- performance solutions. Structural steelwork and industrial piping: The company manufactures and installs structural steel frameworks and piping systems, essential for large-scale projects in industries such as mining, petrochemicals, and chemical processing. Their fabrication services are customised to meet the specific demands of each industry, ensuring precision and reliability. Custom engineering solutions: ND Engineering offers tailored solutions designed to address the unique requirements of different sectors. This includes engineering services for complex projects, ensuring the highest levels of accuracy and compliance with international standards. Turnkey projects: ND Engineering provides a full- service approach, managing all aspects of a project, from initial concept and design through to fabrication, delivery, and on-site installation. This holistic offering ensures streamlined project execution and optimised results. Maintenance and overhauls: In addition to fabrication, ND Engineering provides maintenance and overhaul services for pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and other critical equipment. These services can be delivered both on-site and off-site, ensuring that clients’ equipment operates efficiently and with minimal downtime. The company’s comprehensive range of services positions it as a versatile partner for both large-scale and small-scale steel fabrication projects, enabling them to meet diverse client needs. Quality and Safety ND Engineering is committed to delivering high quality products and services while ensuring the safety of both its workforce and its clients. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, a globally recognised standard for quality management systems. This certification ensures that ND Engineering consistently delivers products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. Furthermore, the company is certified under SANS ISO 3834, which is crucial for welding and fabricating pressure equipment in line with international standards. This certification not only enhances the company’s reputation but also guarantees that their products meet the stringent safety and quality standards required by industries such as petrochemical and mining. Skilled Workforce and Empowerment A key strength of ND Engineering is its highly skilled workforce. The company employs a team of qualified engineers, welders, and fabricators, all of whom bring extensive experience to the table. ND Engineering is dedicated to the continuous development of its employees, investing in training and skills development programmes that ensure its team remains at the cutting edge of the industry. As a 100% black-owned business, ND Engineering is committed to empowerment and transformation. The company holds a Level 4 BBBEE rating, reflecting its dedication to contributing to socio-economic deve lopment in South Africa. This commitment extends to the company’s employees, who are seen as the cornerstone of its success. ND Engineering fosters a culture where each team member plays a critical role, and the company rewards value and contribution over time spent. Innovation Innovation is at the core of ND Engineering’s strategy. The company continually invests in new technologies and processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver better value to its clients. ND Engineering’s approach to innovation includes early involvement in project planning, which allows the company to anticipate and address potential issues before they arise. This proactive strategy reduces risk, optimises material use, and leads to significant cost savings in fabrication and erection. By focusing on innovation, ND Engineering has positioned itself as a forward-thinking leader in the steel fabrication industry. This approach enables the company to remain competitive in both local and international markets, delivering high-quality products that meet and exceed industry standards.HEAD OFFICE Physical Address: MR385 Road, 8 Keystone Business Park, Cliffdale, Hammarsdale, Durban, 3700 Tel: +27 (0)31 464 0510 E-mail: info@ndengineering.co.za Website: www.ndengineering.co.zahttps://www.kzntopbusiness.com/items-11/elvis-greenHEAD OFFICE Physical Address: MR385 Road, 8 Keystone Business Park, Cliffdale, Hammarsdale, Durban, 3700 Tel: +27 (0)31 464 0510 E-mail: info@ndengineering.co.za Website: www.ndengineering.co.za Up Home Up Elvis Green Latest News More About Leaders TURNKEY ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS ND Engineering (Pty) Ltd is a leading South African steel fabrication company with over five decades of experience. Founded in 1969 as Durban Engineering, the company originally focused on serving the pulp and paper industry. Over the years, it under- went various ownership changes, becoming part of Sunds Defibrator and later Metso Corporation. In 2013, Elvis Green took full ownership, restoring the name ND Engineering and positioning the company as a key player in the local and international steel fabrication markets. Infrastructure and Capabilities Operating from a vast 16,500 m² facility in Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal, ND Engineering is equipped with cutting-edge technology that ensures it can meet the most demanding industry standards. The facility features cranes with a lifting capacity of up to 100 tonnes, enabling the fabrication of large-scale, high precision steel products. Advanced plasma cutting machinery allows for accurate shaping and processing of steel materials, while automated welding technology ensures consistent, high-quality welds. This state-of-the-art setup makes ND Engineering highly efficient in fabricating products like pressure vessels, storage tanks, heat exchangers, and mechanical equipment. With this infrastructure, the company is capable of delivering solutions to a wide range of industries, including mining, petrochemical, sugar, paper, and fertiliser sectors. Services ND Engineering’s services go beyond standard steel fabrication, offering a comprehensive, turnkey solution that spans from design and engineering to installation and maintenance. This approach allows the company to partner with clients from the early stages of a project, ensuring that all aspects of production, delivery, and installation are managed efficiently. Some of the key services provided by ND Engineering include: Fabrication of specialised equipment: ND Engineering fabricates pressure vessels, heat exchangers, storage tanks, distillation columns, and reactors, ensuring all products meet rigorous industry standards. These components are critical for industries that require precise, high- performance solutions. Structural steelwork and industrial piping: The company manufactures and installs structural steel frameworks and piping systems, essential for large-scale projects in industries such as mining, petrochemicals, and chemical processing. Their fabrication services are customised to meet the specific demands of each industry, ensuring precision and reliability. Custom engineering solutions: ND Engineering offers tailored solutions designed to address the unique requirements of different sectors. This includes engineering services for complex projects, ensuring the highest levels of accuracy and compliance with international standards. Turnkey projects: ND Engineering provides a full- service approach, managing all aspects of a project, from initial concept and design through to fabrication, delivery, and on-site installation. This holistic offering ensures streamlined project execution and optimised results. Maintenance and overhauls: In addition to fabrication, ND Engineering provides maintenance and overhaul services for pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and other critical equipment. These services can be delivered both on-site and off-site, ensuring that clients’ equipment operates efficiently and with minimal downtime. The company’s comprehensive range of services positions it as a versatile partner for both large-scale and small-scale steel fabrication projects, enabling them to meet diverse client needs. Quality and Safety ND Engineering is committed to delivering high quality products and services while ensuring the safety of both its workforce and its clients. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, a globally recognised standard for quality management systems. This certification ensures that ND Engineering consistently delivers products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. Furthermore, the company is certified under SANS ISO 3834, which is crucial for welding and fabricating pressure equipment in line with international standards. This certification not only enhances the company’s reputation but also guarantees that their products meet the stringent safety and quality standards required by industries such as petrochemical and mining. Skilled Workforce and Empowerment A key strength of ND Engineering is its highly skilled workforce. The company employs a team of qualified engineers, welders, and fabricators, all of whom bring extensive experience to the table. ND Engineering is dedicated to the continuous development of its employees, investing in training and skills development programmes that ensure its team remains at the cutting edge of the industry. As a 100% black-owned business, ND Engineering is committed to empowerment and transformation. The company holds a Level 4 BBBEE rating, reflecting its dedication to contributing to socio-economic deve lopment in South Africa. This commitment extends to the company’s employees, who are seen as the cornerstone of its success. ND Engineering fosters a culture where each team member plays a critical role, and the company rewards value and contribution over time spent. Innovation Innovation is at the core of ND Engineering’s strategy. The company continually invests in new technologies and processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver better value to its clients. ND Engineering’s approach to innovation includes early involvement in project planning, which allows the company to anticipate and address potential issues before they arise. This proactive strategy reduces risk, optimises material use, and leads to significant cost savings in fabrication and erection. By focusing on innovation, ND Engineering has positioned itself as a forward-thinking leader in the steel fabrication industry. This approach enables the company to remain competitive in both local and international markets, delivering high-quality products that meet and exceed industry standards. HEAD OFFICE Physical Address: MR385 Road, 8 Keystone Business Park, Cliffdale, Hammarsdale, Durban, 3700 Tel: +27 (0)31 464 0510 E-mail: info@ndengineering.co.za Website: www.ndengineering.co.za Latest News Company News Blog Keep up with the latest trends and insights. Check out our blog today! Read More Home Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Founded in July 1992, Capitol Caterers is now one of the leading industrial catering companies in South AfricaCapitol CaterersFounded in July 1992, Capitol Caterers is now one of the leading industrial catering companies in South AfricaFounded in July 1992, Capitol Caterers is now one of the leading industrial catering companies in South Africa. ‘Welcome to the Family’ is the company’s motto; a truism endorsed by staff and clients alike. Capitol Caterers services more than 100 customised catering contracts in the education, healthcare, commercial and retirement sectors within South Africa and Eswatini. The company specialises in providing high quality, nutritious and well-balanced meals to meet divergent dietary requirements, tastes and group sizes. CEO Merrill King heads up the operation, supported by joint managing directors, Russell Nzimande and Laura Morton. All bring a unique skill set to the company; King and Morton as award winning executive chefs, and Nzimande as an industry specialist in operations and contract catering. The Capitol Workers Trust Capitol Caterers currently employs in excess of 1400 personnel. Much of the company’s success can be attributed to a stable workforce evidenced by the large number of staff who have been with the company for over fifteen years. These trends stem from a strong empowerment ethic and a business philosophy deeply rooted in staff wellness. Founder, Giles King, with a vision of empowering loyal staff for their long service, instituted a significant change in 2002 by transferring 21% of the company’s ownership to the Capitol Workers Trust. This percentage has now ballooned to 49% and beneficiaries (after five years of service) all receive a proportionate imbursement from regular dividend declarations. Supply Chain A dedicated department manages all procurement for the group. Capitol Caterers supply chain agreements ensure best price practice, quality compliance, field to fork traceability and adherence to the company’s sustainability plan. A strength is in the company’s flexibility to source products from smaller and entrepreneurial suppliers to service the specific needs of their contracts. Quality Management Systems All contracts adhere to QMS (Quality Management Systems) together with a customised in-house quality control system, CHESS (Capitol Health, Environment & Safety Standards). Operations are governed by the Occupational Health & Safety Act, ISO 9001 and HACCP standards. A dedicated OHS officer conducts regular internal audits and ensures training on food safety, hygiene and industrial kitchen standards. Dietetics The Dietetics Department offers nutritional support and contributes to the wellness needs of the company’s clients. Their functions include menu analysis, menu design, education on special diets and allergy considerations. The dieticians also prepare educational material and regularly conduct talks on the importance of healthy nutrition and balanced lifestyle practices. Midlands Hospitality Academy Capitol Caterers believes in upskilling their staff and to continuously develop their expertise. One of the tools to enable this goal has been the establishment of the Midlands Hospitality Academy (MHA), which is accredited by QCTO and CATHSSETA. Learnership opportunities are offered to both employed and unemployed external applicants, which are conducted in-house or through on-line training programmes. The academy has partnered with various training providers who educate the students in the latest trends in the hospitality environment. Capitol Caterers support the development and employment of disabled individuals. Four employees are currently participating in a registered learnership with ICAN (PMI Group). Additionally, a partnership with the Department of Social Development and Mental Health has, over the past year, enabled a further four people living with disabilities to be integrated into the workforce. Environment Capitol Caterers is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and imposes their environmental policy and strict recycling regimes at all client sites. Endorsing the company’s job creation philosophy, it has various contracts with entrepreneurial entities for the removal of waste to approved recycling facilities. INDUSTRY SECTORS Education: As a market leader in the education sector, the company strives to create a home away from home experience by providing nutritious, balanced, and tasty food. Providing a creative flair with functions, innovative meal plans and on-going student education on the nutritional value of the food served provides a comforting assurance to both parents and clients. Healthcare: The company holds a solid footprint in the public and private healthcare sector. Capitol Caterers understands that nutrition is a vital part of patient care and their rehabilitation. Commercial: Cost effective catering solutions for canteens are provided within the corporate and industrial sectors. The emphasis is on employee wellness and in providing healthy and hearty meals served within the defined time frames and operating requirements of each organisation. Retirement: The residents at retirement facilities look forward to the serving of balanced meals, personalised dietary considerations, fantastic functions, and excellent service from compassionate staff. ADDED VALUE SERVICE OFFERINGS Private Event Catering: Capitol Cuisine provides niche catering for corporate functions, sporting events, weddings, and high-end private occasions. Full Facilities Management: Included in the Capitol Caterers umbrella is a cleaning and laundry services division, a welcome service offering to its diverse client base.Full Name of Company: Itakane Trading 47 (Pty) Ltd T/A Capitol Caterers Nature of Business: Business Services Services / Products: Industrial catering, private event catering, full facilities management, accredited hospitality training programmes, kitchen management, design and consulting Date Established: July 1992 Subsidiaries: Midlands Hospitality Academy; Capitol Caterers Eswatini; Capitol Cuisine, Falini Food Services Customer Base: Education, healthcare, retirement, commercial sectors, private event catering No. of Employees: 1423 (as of 30 June 2021) B-BBEE Status: Level 1 KEY PERSONNEL Chairman: Giles King CEO: Merrill King Managing Directors: Russell Nzimande & Laura Morton Human Resources Director: Janet Mill Financial Director: Russell Tredway Procurement Manager: Belinda Richards Group Marketing and Sales Manager: Melanie Wester Group Executive Chef: Angelique Goosen CONTACT DETAILS Head Office Physical Address: 121 Jabu Ndlovu Street, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 Postal Address: P.O. Box 3572, Pietermaritzburg, 3201 Tel: +27 (0)33 394 0310 E-mail: admin@capitolcaterers.co.za Website: www.capitolcaterers.co.zaMERRILL KING, joint MD of Capitol Caterers, has had a 36-year career in the food industry. King, when having to decide on a career path, followed in her brother's footsteps who was working in the hospitality industry, and was lured by the 'romance' of working in the kitchen. She qualified as a chef through the trainee programme at the Royal Hotel in Durban. This culinary background has served her well, providing King with a thorough knowledge of food preparation and service. She has served as Group Executive Chef for a period of ten years at Capitol Caterers. However, together with joint MD Russell Nzimande, King now focuses on the business side of managing Capitol Caterers' daily operations. Headquartered in Pietermaritzburg, Capitol Caterers was founded in 1993 by her husband Giles who in the current role as chairman, still plays an active role in the business. The company is currently entering its 26th year of service and caters for clients in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Free State, Gauteng as well as in Eswatini. King says that much of her time is spent travelling to the regional offices to ensure that these operations are well supported. In addition, she values the relationships that she has developed with her staff and she strives to understand their needs and ensure that they are happy. "We favour a collaborative style of leadership and obtain input from all divisions when decisions are to be made. Within the catering environment, all of our staff play important roles. While wages may motivate some staff members, supporting our staff so that they are happy means that all our clients are happy too," commented King. Capitol Caterers has over 100 clients in different sectors. These range from the education and health sectors, to the commercial and the retirement sectors. "The catering business is hard work. In order to meet these varied sector needs, a standardised approach or menu is not possible. We have to ensure that our menus are within our clients' vastly different needs and budgets." In addition, Capitol Caterers not only keeps up with food trends but ensures that all the food that is prepared in their kitchens is nutritious and fulfils a wide range of dietary needs while being beautifully presented. "We pride ourselves in continually striving for excellence and in ensuring that our food is interesting, local and relevant, but most importantly, being steadfastly mindful of our footprint on the environment by adhering to strict QMS and ISO practices."In order to ensure that the staff are skilled, Capitol Caterers has registered Midlands Hospitality Academy (MHA), which is accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and CATHSSETA. Staff empowerment has been promoted through the company's Workers Trust. In an empowerment deal initiated in 2003, the beneficiaries have grown to 570 and now boast a 49% share in Capitol Caterers. King commented that in addition to empowering staff, the company needed to continually make its presence known in the marketplace through active marketing campaigns. In order to obtain some life balance, King enjoys spending time in the gym, paddling or running to stay fit and 'to ensure a flow of endorphins'. She is a competitive canoeist who has won several age-category gold medals in the Dusi and Fish River Marathons as well as a silver medal with partner, Sonja Bohnsack, at the World Marathon Canoeing Championships in Pietermaritzburg in 2017. She hopes to complete her 16th Dusi in 2020. King has also competed in running events including two Comrades Marathons and five Two Oceans ultra-marathons. King was the first woman to hold the position of president of Canoeing South Africa, which she occupied from 2008-2010. She is a long-serving board member of the South African Confederation of Sport and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). Whenever possible, King enjoys relaxing with her husband, their three children and grandson. Full Name of Company: Itakane Trading 47 (Pty) Ltd T/A Capitol Caterers Nature of Business: Business Services Services / Products: Industrial catering, private event catering, full facilities management, accredited hospitality training programmes, kitchen management, design and consulting Date Established: July 1992 Subsidiaries: Midlands Hospitality Academy; Capitol Caterers Eswatini; Capitol Cuisine, Falini Food Services Customer Base: Education, healthcare, retirement, commercial sectors, private event catering No. of Employees: 1423 (as of 30 June 2021) B-BBEE Status: Level 1 KEY PERSONNEL Chairman: Giles King CEO: Merrill King Managing Directors: Russell Nzimande & Laura Morton Human Resources Director: Janet Mill Financial Director: Russell Tredway Procurement Manager: Belinda Richards Group Marketing and Sales Manager: Melanie Wester Group Executive Chef: Angelique Goosen CONTACT DETAILS Head Office Physical Address: 121 Jabu Ndlovu Street, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 Postal Address: P.O. Box 3572, Pietermaritzburg, 3201 Tel: +27 (0)33 394 0310 E-mail: admin@capitolcaterers.co.za Website: www.capitolcaterers.co.za Up Home Up Merrill King Latest News More About Leaders Founded in July 1992, Capitol Caterers is now one of the leading industrial catering companies in South Africa. ‘Welcome to the Family’ is the company’s motto; a truism endorsed by staff and clients alike. Capitol Caterers services more than 100 customised catering contracts in the education, healthcare, commercial and retirement sectors within South Africa and Eswatini. The company specialises in providing high quality, nutritious and well-balanced meals to meet divergent dietary requirements, tastes and group sizes. CEO Merrill King heads up the operation, supported by joint managing directors, Russell Nzimande and Laura Morton. All bring a unique skill set to the company; King and Morton as award winning executive chefs, and Nzimande as an industry specialist in operations and contract catering. The Capitol Workers Trust Capitol Caterers currently employs in excess of 1400 personnel. Much of the company’s success can be attributed to a stable workforce evidenced by the large number of staff who have been with the company for over fifteen years. These trends stem from a strong empowerment ethic and a business philosophy deeply rooted in staff wellness. Founder, Giles King, with a vision of empowering loyal staff for their long service, instituted a significant change in 2002 by transferring 21% of the company’s ownership to the Capitol Workers Trust. This percentage has now ballooned to 49% and beneficiaries (after five years of service) all receive a proportionate imbursement from regular dividend declarations. Supply Chain A dedicated department manages all procurement for the group. Capitol Caterers supply chain agreements ensure best price practice, quality compliance, field to fork traceability and adherence to the company’s sustainability plan. A strength is in the company’s flexibility to source products from smaller and entrepreneurial suppliers to service the specific needs of their contracts. Quality Management Systems All contracts adhere to QMS (Quality Management Systems) together with a customised in-house quality control system, CHESS (Capitol Health, Environment & Safety Standards). Operations are governed by the Occupational Health & Safety Act, ISO 9001 and HACCP standards. A dedicated OHS officer conducts regular internal audits and ensures training on food safety, hygiene and industrial kitchen standards. Dietetics The Dietetics Department offers nutritional support and contributes to the wellness needs of the company’s clients. Their functions include menu analysis, menu design, education on special diets and allergy considerations. The dieticians also prepare educational material and regularly conduct talks on the importance of healthy nutrition and balanced lifestyle practices. Midlands Hospitality Academy Capitol Caterers believes in upskilling their staff and to continuously develop their expertise. One of the tools to enable this goal has been the establishment of the Midlands Hospitality Academy (MHA), which is accredited by QCTO and CATHSSETA. Learnership opportunities are offered to both employed and unemployed external applicants, which are conducted in-house or through on-line training programmes. The academy has partnered with various training providers who educate the students in the latest trends in the hospitality environment. Capitol Caterers support the development and employment of disabled individuals. Four employees are currently participating in a registered learnership with ICAN (PMI Group). Additionally, a partnership with the Department of Social Development and Mental Health has, over the past year, enabled a further four people living with disabilities to be integrated into the workforce. Environment Capitol Caterers is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and imposes their environmental policy and strict recycling regimes at all client sites. Endorsing the company’s job creation philosophy, it has various contracts with entrepreneurial entities for the removal of waste to approved recycling facilities. INDUSTRY SECTORS Education: As a market leader in the education sector, the company strives to create a home away from home experience by providing nutritious, balanced, and tasty food. Providing a creative flair with functions, innovative meal plans and on-going student education on the nutritional value of the food served provides a comforting assurance to both parents and clients. Healthcare: The company holds a solid footprint in the public and private healthcare sector. Capitol Caterers understands that nutrition is a vital part of patient care and their rehabilitation. Commercial: Cost effective catering solutions for canteens are provided within the corporate and industrial sectors. The emphasis is on employee wellness and in providing healthy and hearty meals served within the defined time frames and operating requirements of each organisation. Retirement: The residents at retirement facilities look forward to the serving of balanced meals, personalised dietary considerations, fantastic functions, and excellent service from compassionate staff. ADDED VALUE SERVICE OFFERINGS Private Event Catering: Capitol Cuisine provides niche catering for corporate functions, sporting events, weddings, and high-end private occasions. Full Facilities Management: Included in the Capitol Caterers umbrella is a cleaning and laundry services division, a welcome service offering to its diverse client base. Full Name of Company: Itakane Trading 47 (Pty) Ltd T/A Capitol Caterers Nature of Business: Business Services Services / Products: Industrial catering, private event catering, full facilities management, accredited hospitality training programmes, kitchen management, design and consulting Date Established: July 1992 Subsidiaries: Midlands Hospitality Academy; Capitol Caterers Eswatini; Capitol Cuisine, Falini Food Services Customer Base: Education, healthcare, retirement, commercial sectors, private event catering No. of Employees: 1423 (as of 30 June 2021) B-BBEE Status: Level 1 KEY PERSONNEL Chairman: Giles King CEO: Merrill King Managing Directors: Russell Nzimande & Laura Morton Human Resources Director: Janet Mill Financial Director: Russell Tredway Procurement Manager: Belinda Richards Group Marketing and Sales Manager: Melanie Wester Group Executive Chef: Angelique Goosen CONTACT DETAILS Head Office Physical Address: 121 Jabu Ndlovu Street, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 Postal Address: P.O. Box 3572, Pietermaritzburg, 3201 Tel: +27 (0)33 394 0310 E-mail: admin@capitolcaterers.co.za Website: www.capitolcaterers.co.za Latest News Company News Blog Keep up with the latest trends and insights. Check out our blog today! Read More Home Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

< Back Next Nelson Govender Nelson Govender is the chief executive officer and chairman of the board at LHL Engineering Nelson Govender, the chief executive officer and chairman of the board at LHL Engineering, embodies the essence of determination, hard work, and strategic leadership. Nelson’s humble beginnings instilled in him an unwavering drive to succeed. After losing his parents, he was adopted by his aunt and uncle, who provided him with love, care, and support for his education. He attended St. Xavier’s Primary School and completed his matric at Verulam High School in 1979, on a government grant. Much of his journey has been driven by his early experiences and the desire to create a legacy for his family. Nelson emphasises that he does not want his children to face the same difficulties he has encountered in his life. COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE Nelson’s academic pursuits earned him a number of certificates and diplomas in supervisory management, quality management, industrial engineering, work study, production management, mechanical engineering, and advanced business management. His professional journey began as a laboratory assistant at Sasol in Secunda, followed by a stint as a trainee mechanical engineer. He then transitioned back to the chemical industry, rising from a junior position to become a shareholder and director in a chemical business. Nelson’s progress, despite being an Indian during the apartheid years in South Africa, is a testament to his outspoken nature, commitment to excellence, and continuous pursuit of improvement. He has always sought to learn from others, travelling the world to gain exposure to world-class standards, which helped make his chemical manufacturing plant one of the best globally. In 2013, Nelson left to pursue personal opportunities, leveraging the sale of his shares and savings from side ventures in mechanics to become the owner and CEO of his own engineering business and other enterprises. LHL Engineering was established in February 1969 as a support company for the German-imported LHL axle used in the logistics industry. “The company was successful until 2013 but then started failing, and I bought it as an investment and, more so, as a property investment,” Nelson explained. A SOLID REPUTATION He further commented that despite buying a failing business, he was determined not to retrench any of its eighty employees. His vision focuses on providing essential services, creating employment opportunities, and supporting the community. To ensure the business stabilised and grew, Nelson and his team refocused the company’s direction and transformed its operations. “We do business with the right certification and all the qualifications required in our sector,” he remarked. The company has built a solid reputation for its management, product quality, and services, specialising in the fabrication, refurbishment, and installation of stainless steel and other exotic materials. Under Nelson’s leadership, LHL Engineering has achieved remarkable growth, increasing turnover from 12 million rand to nearly 100 million rand in under eight years. He explained, “I came from a very difficult background, and during that process, you have a lot of naysayers. For me, extricating myself from a poverty-stricken background and succeeding in what I’ve set out to achieve is really my proudest accomplishment.” Reflecting on the best advice he has ever received and its influence on him, Nelson says that while it is important to learn from the past, one must always look to the future. “One of my senior managers said to me, ‘Focusing on the rearview mirror will lead to accidents,’ which is a fact. What he meant was that while we need to learn from the past, we should focus on the present and see how we can shape the future. I believe strongly that your heritage does not define your future.” Nelson has not been immune to the challenges faced by many small businesses in KwaZulu-Natal. He noted that one of the biggest challenges is accessing funding in South Africa, which is extremely difficult to obtain. To manage the business’s finances, the company has focused on saving and strategically investing to improve cash availability and debt ratings. Nelson and his team are now challenging them- selves to become world-class players in steel fabrication, driving continuous improvement through collaboration with global businesses and other industry players. Despite funding challenges, Nelson has strategically managed finances, ensuring permanent staff are always fully paid, celebrating successes, and promoting a culture of accountability and value addition. “We have a theory that we follow: everyone has to be accountable for their actions and their output,” Nelson remarked. Nelson does not accept a “we’ve always done it like that” mindset among his staff when responding to queries. Instead, he encourages critical thinking, innovation, and a solutions-oriented approach to address challenges and improve processes. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE When asked who inspires him, Nelson explains that while his family is an important source of motivation, he cannot single out any particular person. “There’s no single person that inspires me, for sure, but I am fully aware of the happenings around me. In other words, I look at people who achieve and see if I can learn from their accomplishments.” Furthermore, Nelson derives much motivation from his activities centred on growing and mentoring people, which he undertakes regularly. Commenting on his vision for the future of KwaZulu- Natal, Nelson says, “As a country, we are struggling because we lack large new businesses and have not been successful in beneficiating our raw materials. We need the government to identify these beneficiation opportunities with businesses and create globally sustainable enterprises that can compete in the global market. In the absence of economies of scale, I believe that manufacturing businesses will not succeed in South Africa.” Nelson’s motto is “Nothing is impossible”. He draws inspiration from Tata Nelson Mandela, who said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” As he continues to drive his company toward new heights, Nelson remains focused on creating a sustainable future for his industry and his community, proving that true success lies in the relentless pursuit of excellence. Previous Next

< Back Next Esay Reddy Esayvanie (Esay) Reddy is the group chief executive at the RR Group Esayvanie (Esay) Reddy group chief executive at the RR Group is an accomplished business woman with 30 plus years of experience in the petroleum, quick service restaurant, healthcare manufacturing, telecommunications, and distribution industry. The group comprises KZN Oils and KZN Oils Transport, JD Telecoms, Kolay Home of Chicken, Ko-Lay, Champion Health Care and KVK Property Development. As a qualified business executive, Esay oversees the general business management, growth, and profitability as well as marketing initiatives from large, medium to small within the RR Group. Esay and Rajen Reddy, her late husband, begun their business journey in 1983 with a Shell Service Station located in Briardene. Commenting on their many business successes Esay explains, “We got to where we are today through lots of hard work and sacrifice. Both of us had the same goals, which was a better life for our three children. I started working with Rajen when my youngest child was one year old; I had to leave him with the helper to start cashing up and look after the finances in the service station. We worked basically 24/7 in the early days and had to forego holidays.” Due to the huge amount of time required Rajen decided to sell the service station and move into the stationery business. This opportunity came about when 23 black economic empowerment companies were started at the Port of Durban. The venture was very challenging as Esay and Rajen knew nothing about stationery. However, from that initiative an opportunity to supply fuel and lubrication to the port emerged. “After a lot of challenges, we got our first order and that is how KZN Oils was born with the story of that one barrel of oil. KZN Oils, the ‘mothership’ of the group, was established in 2001, from her all the other companies were born,” explains Esay. LIFE CHALLENGES Esay is the mother to three children Kerushin, Venisha and Kreeshan who work in the business. Being a mom, a wife and working within the business has always been a challenge for Esay. Her method of balancing her life was to separate the different aspects. “Once I was at work, it was just about work and while I was on my way home, I thought about what I had to cook, what the kids needed, and what I had to do when I got home. It also was planning. I found separating, organising, having people to assist helped me along the way enabled me to balance growing up kids that are adults now, running a business that has become very successful, and to stay married for 37 years.” Esay reflected that her greatest life challenge has been losing her husband Rajen, she says, has left large footsteps for her to follow. However, she has a good knowledge of all the plans, the blueprint, that he had in mind for the group of companies. Another challenge for her has been the step up into the role of CEO. “We have over 200 staff that rely on us and after Rajen passed, the most important thing was to continue with his legacy and honour his memory. I know that is what kept my three children and myself going. With him not here now we have no choice but to step up to the plate and do exactly what he has done. It’s the least that we can do to say thank you for all the work that he has done all these years.” A PEOPLE-FIRST-FOCUS Throughout Esay’s years of experience, she always maintained a people-first focus. In particular, Esay is passionate about empowering women and the RR Group has an 80% taskforce of women in its companies. “My advice to younger women is to believe in everything that you think and that you know that you can do, because as women we can accomplish anything. I am the walking example of that.” She says that one of the most important things about being a female in business is ensuring that you are happy. The RR Group focuses on ensuring their employees wellbeing is taken care of through a strong human resources department and initiatives such as flexible working hours for mothers. A significant achievement for Esay is the establishment of the Rajen Reddy Foundation, which she said came about because she thought of the things that Rajen wouldn’t be around to do – the things that he was so passionate about doing. Commenting on the RR Foundation, Esay explained, “Whatever I try to do is always to honour Rajen and the legacy that he has created and to ensure that his memory and the things that he has done in our province continue to get done. Our goal is to continue to help the people in our province first – I always believe start at home – and then take it out further.” The RR Reddy Foundation has three pillars; these are education, mental health (philosophical psychology) and physical health. She added, “I believe that the group of companies needs to work hard in order to uplift communities. I don’t believe in giving grocery parcels because you can only do so for a limited amount of time.” In conclusion Esay said, ““I have found that determination and a strong mindset can get you anywhere you want to go. We as women are very special. We have so many challenges from the time that we are born until we pass on and we accomplish them with grace, with a lot of stamina and with a lot of empathy. And if we can continue with that you can get whatever you want in what you set your mind and heart to do.” Previous Next

< Back Next Lindiwe Rakharebe Lindiwe Rakharebe is the chief executive officer of the Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC) Lindiwe Rakharebe has been the chief executive officer of the Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC) since 1 April 2015. Her passion and dedication in growing the KwaZulu-Natal economy as well as her strong background in corporate management has helped to continue to propel the forward momentum of the organisation. She lives by the motto: “I am driven to achieve excellence in every way in my duty and delegation.” Lindiwe’s roots are in KwaZulu-Natal. She was born and raised in Chesterville. She holds a bachelor’s degree in management leadership from the University of the Free State as well as a diploma in management development and a number of professional development programmes. Prior to assuming the position as CEO at the Durban ICC, she served as the regional executive for Absa KwaZulu-Natal where she oversaw the strategic leadership of the organisation and facilitated the growth of the Absa/Barclays Africa Group’s footprint in the province. She has served in a management capacity for all four of South Africa’s major banking institutions. A MASSIVE CONTRIBUTION The Durban ICC makes a massive contribution to both the local and national economies and significantly complements the job creation efforts in KwaZulu-Natal. The Durban ICC’s contribution to government taxes is projected at R397.7 million for the last fiscal. The primary impact for the City of Durban stems from the wealth generated through delegate expenditures while attending events secured by the Durban ICC and its strategic partners. The Centre contributed a remarkable R6,3 billion to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the 2023/24 fiscal year. Additionally, the Centre contributed R4.7 billion to the Gross Geographic Product (GGP) of KwaZulu-Natal and R3.5 billion to eThekwini’s GGP in the same period. The activities of the Durban ICC are estimated to have created and/or sustained 11 387 annualised jobs in the South African economy during the 2023/24 financial year, comprising 6 818 direct jobs and 4 569 indirect jobs. In the KwaZulu-Natal economy, the Durban ICC’s operations created and/ or sustained approximately 8 382 annualised jobs, including 5,210 direct jobs and 3,172 indirect jobs in the 2023/24 financial year. “Our continued success is a result of a concerted effort between our staff, our strategic partners in the City and Province and the loyal support of our clients. This coupled with diligent management and sound financial controls at all levels of the organisation help to contribute to the overall success of the Durban ICC,” explained Lindiwe. A WINNING STREAK Durban ICC has again clinched the baton and has been voted Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre 2024. The Durban ICC also received this illustrious industry accolade last year when it was chosen the continent’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre 2023. The iconic meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) venue, which was opened by former President Nelson Mandela in 1997 has been crowned Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre for at least 20 years in its 27 years of existence. Between 2010 to 2018, the Durban ICC was crowned Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre for nine years in a row before being placed after Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, which took first prize. Now the Durban ICC is again on a winning streak, taking top position for the second year in a row, a testament to its unwavering commitment to excellence. The Durban ICC’s dedication to providing world-class services and facilities for meetings and conferences has made it a repeat recipient of this prestigious title. Lindiwe expressed her gratitude, saying, “We are immensely proud and humbled to be named ‘Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre’ in the 2024 World Travel Awards. This achievement reflects the tireless dedication of our team and our unwavering commitment to providing a world-class platform for meetings and events.” INSTILLING CONFIDENCE Lindiwe is well aware of the challenges of a being a woman leader in the male dominated world of business. Lindiwe said: “As a woman, you are gifted; you are a natural life-giver and whatever you give life to, will increase and grow. So whatever challenges you face as a woman, you know how to manoeuvre, whether it’s leading a company or propelling a cause. A woman influences everything she touches.” Empowering others to achieve their highest performance by instilling confidence in all of her team is an important part of Lindiwe’s daily activities. “I have an ability to get the best out of people, enabling them to perform at their optimum. My leadership style is characterised by love, respect and open communication, and I place a premium on the importance of work-life balance. I also impress upon my team that despite all the obstacles that we might face, the delegates come first. I also ensure that the execution of our employment policies and practices are aimed at developing a multi-cultural and diverse workforce that is non-racist, non-sexist, and non-discriminatory.” “The most important thing in remaining Africa’s Leading Convention Centre is that we exceed our clients’ expectations and provide an exceptional experience for each and every event we host.” The Centre has been focusing on the development of their high-tech virtual event solutions. Having invested in the latest, innovative meeting technology, the Durban ICC is re-inventing itself as the continent’s leading high-tech convention centre. “Without moving away from our existing market positioning, we are adding this competitive edge and aiming to also be recognised as ‘Africa’s Smartest Convention Centre’,” explained Lindiwe. Playing a positive role in society and investing in community development programmes remains an integral part of the Durban ICC. “The culture of giving back is part of our DNA as a Centre, whether it’s by partnering with non-profit organisations to help those less fortunate or volunteering our time and resources for a worthy cause,” concluded Lindiwe. Previous Next

To protect lives through our credibility in the expanding global market.Imperial Armour To protect lives through our credibility in the expanding global market.“WHEN YOU GO IN, WE GO IN WITH YOU.” Imperial Armour CC was established in October 2000 and this year, celebrates 25 years in business. The company’s experience, excellent quality, and continual innovations has made them the leading manufacturer of personal protective equipment in South Africa. Our extensive product offerings include bullet-proof vests; anti-stab vests; hard armour; anti-riot equipment; demining protection; structural fire suits, and additional accessories. Imperial Armour exports to over 78 countries with a client base in Africa, Asia and Europe. Having supplied the United Nations, ministries of defence and ministries of interior within various countries, Imperial Armour has developed extremely strong and reputable relationships over the years. Imperial Armour’s focus is to save lives and does this by providing the latest technology within its innovative designs. Typical customers include private security, military personnel, police, fire fighters, emergency medical services and demining officers. Imperial Armour’s mission statement epitomises its brand by:  Being predominately an all women company  Developing and nurturing relationships with customers based on trust and integrity  Aiming to protect lives through a long-standing credibility in the expanding global market  Ensuring its products are of the highest standards  Constantly researching and developing products so that customers receive the latest and most advanced technology, suitable to their needs Ethical Culture Imperial Armour’s management team is guided by Emily Elliott, the CEO of the business, who has always stood for strong effective moral and ethicalpractices. Her example had laid the foundation for an entrenched ethical culture within her management team when making decisions and treating the employees with dignity and respect. This flows through to the Imperial Armour employees who are guided by the company’s code of ethics which encompasses integrity, competence, responsibility, accountability, fairness, and transparency. Annual training of ethics and anti-corruption and bribery also take place to ensure all employees are aware of this business requirement. This material is reviewed yearly to ensure it is still in line with applicable legal and other requirements. Value Creation The business value is the employees who in turn create quality products on a consistent basis. Imperial Armour plays an important role in KwaZulu-Natal by employing women from the local communities as well as their young family members who have recently matriculated. The company recognises the importance of training to ensure that their employees become empowered in their roles. We have a buddy system introduced so that each employee can learn the importance of the other person’s role. This system has also allowed the employees to grow in themselves by learning a new skill as well as learning new aspects of the business, thus empowering them. External training is also provided such as embroidery- digitising, first aid, firefighting, and quality training. This training empowering the employees in the workplace and in their communities where skills can be transferred. Trust, Good Reputation and Legitimacy Imperial Armour is extremely proud to hold solid and long-lasting relationships with key suppliers in the industry. Being in business for 25 years, Imperial Armour has built up a solid customer base in our local market, including giants in the security industry: Fidelity ADT; Fidelity Cash; Bidvest Protea Coin; Izi Cash; and local government institutions. As repeat customers place their trust in Imperial Armour to provide the ongoing professional service, 78% of its business comes from repeat orders of existing clients. All products delivered are stringently checked through our quality and control process. The company ensures that it provides customers with the highest quality products possible. In addition, Imperial Armour ensures customer focus through meeting customer’s legal requirements, understanding risks and opportunities relating to its product and service conformity. Good Performance Imperial Armour is ISO 9001: 2015 certified. The system is maintained on a day-to-day basis by key personnel, with internal and process audits done at set regular intervals by on outsourced consultant, and once a year by the external certification body to ensure they are still on track and in line with the international quality standard. All the manufactured products are tested by an Independent Testing House in USA, to ensure conformance to product specification, resulting in internationally recognised certification. Community Support Imperial Armour covers a wide variety of different areas within the community. These projects cover the welfare element by examples of offering great deals and discounted prices for the community policing forums and neighbourhood watch teams across all provinces. Imperial Armour also regularly donates to initiatives such as the Anti-Rhino Poaching Campaigns and to The Red Cross. Full Name of Company: Imperial Armour Category: Manufacturing Services/Products: Manufacture of Personal Protection Equipment Subsidiaries: Imperial Uniforms, Imperial Fire Date Established: October 2000 No. of Employees: 27 Bank: FNB VISION To develop and nurture our relationships with clients based on trust and integrity. MISSION To protect lives through our credibility in the expanding global market. KEY PERSONNEL CEO: Emily Elliott Strategic Consultant: Louisa Garland Team Leader: Carey Visagie CONTACT DETAILS Physical Address: 3 Clark Road, Westmead, 3610 Tel: +27 (0)31 700 2650 E-mail: emilyelliott@imperial-armour.com Website www.imperial-armour.comFull Name of Company: Imperial Armour Category: Manufacturing Services/Products: Manufacture of Personal Protection Equipment Subsidiaries: Imperial Uniforms, Imperial Fire Date Established: October 2000 No. of Employees: 27 Bank: FNB VISION To develop and nurture our relationships with clients based on trust and integrity. MISSION To protect lives through our credibility in the expanding global market. KEY PERSONNEL CEO: Emily Elliott Strategic Consultant: Louisa Garland Team Leader: Carey Visagie CONTACT DETAILS Physical Address: 3 Clark Road, Westmead, 3610 Tel: +27 (0)31 700 2650 E-mail: emilyelliott@imperial-armour.com Website www.imperial-armour.com Up Home Up Louisa Garland Latest News More About Leaders “WHEN YOU GO IN, WE GO IN WITH YOU.” Imperial Armour CC was established in October 2000 and this year, celebrates 25 years in business. The company’s experience, excellent quality, and continual innovations has made them the leading manufacturer of personal protective equipment in South Africa. Our extensive product offerings include bullet-proof vests; anti-stab vests; hard armour; anti-riot equipment; demining protection; structural fire suits, and additional accessories. Imperial Armour exports to over 78 countries with a client base in Africa, Asia and Europe. Having supplied the United Nations, ministries of defence and ministries of interior within various countries, Imperial Armour has developed extremely strong and reputable relationships over the years. Imperial Armour’s focus is to save lives and does this by providing the latest technology within its innovative designs. Typical customers include private security, military personnel, police, fire fighters, emergency medical services and demining officers. Imperial Armour’s mission statement epitomises its brand by:  Being predominately an all women company  Developing and nurturing relationships with customers based on trust and integrity  Aiming to protect lives through a long-standing credibility in the expanding global market  Ensuring its products are of the highest standards  Constantly researching and developing products so that customers receive the latest and most advanced technology, suitable to their needs Ethical Culture Imperial Armour’s management team is guided by Emily Elliott, the CEO of the business, who has always stood for strong effective moral and ethicalpractices. Her example had laid the foundation for an entrenched ethical culture within her management team when making decisions and treating the employees with dignity and respect. This flows through to the Imperial Armour employees who are guided by the company’s code of ethics which encompasses integrity, competence, responsibility, accountability, fairness, and transparency. Annual training of ethics and anti-corruption and bribery also take place to ensure all employees are aware of this business requirement. This material is reviewed yearly to ensure it is still in line with applicable legal and other requirements. Value Creation The business value is the employees who in turn create quality products on a consistent basis. Imperial Armour plays an important role in KwaZulu-Natal by employing women from the local communities as well as their young family members who have recently matriculated. The company recognises the importance of training to ensure that their employees become empowered in their roles. We have a buddy system introduced so that each employee can learn the importance of the other person’s role. This system has also allowed the employees to grow in themselves by learning a new skill as well as learning new aspects of the business, thus empowering them. External training is also provided such as embroidery- digitising, first aid, firefighting, and quality training. This training empowering the employees in the workplace and in their communities where skills can be transferred. Trust, Good Reputation and Legitimacy Imperial Armour is extremely proud to hold solid and long-lasting relationships with key suppliers in the industry. Being in business for 25 years, Imperial Armour has built up a solid customer base in our local market, including giants in the security industry: Fidelity ADT; Fidelity Cash; Bidvest Protea Coin; Izi Cash; and local government institutions. As repeat customers place their trust in Imperial Armour to provide the ongoing professional service, 78% of its business comes from repeat orders of existing clients. All products delivered are stringently checked through our quality and control process. The company ensures that it provides customers with the highest quality products possible. In addition, Imperial Armour ensures customer focus through meeting customer’s legal requirements, understanding risks and opportunities relating to its product and service conformity. Good Performance Imperial Armour is ISO 9001: 2015 certified. The system is maintained on a day-to-day basis by key personnel, with internal and process audits done at set regular intervals by on outsourced consultant, and once a year by the external certification body to ensure they are still on track and in line with the international quality standard. All the manufactured products are tested by an Independent Testing House in USA, to ensure conformance to product specification, resulting in internationally recognised certification. Community Support Imperial Armour covers a wide variety of different areas within the community. These projects cover the welfare element by examples of offering great deals and discounted prices for the community policing forums and neighbourhood watch teams across all provinces. Imperial Armour also regularly donates to initiatives such as the Anti-Rhino Poaching Campaigns and to The Red Cross. Full Name of Company: Imperial Armour Category: Manufacturing Services/Products: Manufacture of Personal Protection Equipment Subsidiaries: Imperial Uniforms, Imperial Fire Date Established: October 2000 No. of Employees: 27 Bank: FNB VISION To develop and nurture our relationships with clients based on trust and integrity. MISSION To protect lives through our credibility in the expanding global market. KEY PERSONNEL CEO: Emily Elliott Strategic Consultant: Louisa Garland Team Leader: Carey Visagie CONTACT DETAILS Physical Address: 3 Clark Road, Westmead, 3610 Tel: +27 (0)31 700 2650 E-mail: emilyelliott@imperial-armour.com Website www.imperial-armour.com Latest News Company News Blog Keep up with the latest trends and insights. Check out our blog today! Read More Home Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Our mission is to provide an environmentally ethical, legally compliant, and cost effective waste management solution EWaste Africa Our mission is to provide an environmentally ethical, legally compliant, and cost effective waste management solution EWaste Africa is an award-winning recycler of electronic and lighting waste, recognised for its legal compliance and environmentally ethical practices. Since its founding in 2014, the company has grown into one of Southern Africa's most innovative players in the e-waste sector. By working with corporates, producer responsibility organisations, government entities, and environmentally conscious citizens, it helps manage electronic waste in a way that is both sustainable and practical. Headquartered in Pietermaritzburg, EWaste Africa operates two advanced recycling facilities and manages a network of more than 80 public drop-off points across South Africa. With over 300 corporate clients, it provides an end-to-end service offering that covers on-site storage, collection, transportation, recycling, and the beneficiation of end products. EWaste Africa is a trusted partner for companies seeking to meet South Africa's e-waste requirements and align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and zero-waste-to-landfill goals. The company's approach is firmly rooted in the circular economy model, which transforms discarded materials into valuable resources and reduces reliance on raw extraction. Pioneering Light Bulb Recycling A defining achievement in the company's history was the commissioning of Africa's first commercial light bulb recycling plant in Pietermaritzburg. Prior to 2013, the continent lacked both the technology and expertise to recycle this waste stream effectively. The company now operates two hazardous waste management facilities and has already recycled more than 25 million light bulbs. Responsible Battery Management With the global rise of clean energy technologies, PV module waste has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges. EWaste Africa has developed a process to recycle the PV modules, recovering any metals and using the bulk of the module (which is mostly glass) in the production of interlocking eco­ pavers. These pavers are certified as green building material with 40% recycled content. By reducing the demand for virgin resources, EWaste Africa contributes directly to lowering the overall carbon footprint of the energy sector. Recycling Services The company's recycling portfolio is extensive. It can process anything that uses a plug or a battery to operate as well as any energy generating equipment. Electronic and electrical equipment, from household appliances to large industrial machinery, is dismantled carefully to reclaim valuable materials. IT and telecommunications equipment is treated with precision to maximise both component recovery and client rebates. Innovation at the Core Innovation lies at the heart of EWaste Africa. In partnership with the University of KwaZulu­ Natal and the Technology Innovation Agency, the company developed the LPx= machine, a world-first hydrometallurgical system that recovers rare earth metals and captures mercury with 99.9 per cent diversion from landfill. It also makes use of Balcan Engineering's internationally acclaimed lamp recycling system, which consumes less than 15 kW of energy and ensures that all by-products are reused. EWaste Africa's innovative methods for handling end-of-life photovoltaic panels earned it first place in the 2024 Circular Innovation Challenge. Further, in March 2024, EWaste Africa signed a memorandum of understanding with UK-based Watercycle Technologies to develop and deploy patented processes for recovering lithium carbonate from spent lithium iron phosphate batteries. This collaboration represents a milestone for ton-scale battery recycling and positions South Africa as a leader in advanced mineral recovery. Accessibility and Compliance Recognising the importance of convenience, EWaste Africa has introduced community collection containers in high-footfall areas such as shopping centres. These enable members of the public to drop off unwanted electronics quickly and without paperwork, creating a low-fuss solution that reduces both hazardous waste and carbon emissions. Compliance remains central to the company's operations. It aligns with South Africa's National Environmental Management: Waste Act, the National Road Traffic Act, municipal by-laws, and broader health and environmental regulations. With two national hazardous waste management licenses and multiple transport and storage registrations,EWaste Africa offers full legal assurance to its clients. It also collaborates with producer responsibility organisations to facilitate extended producer responsibility compliance for manufacturers, retailers, and distributors. A Vision Beyond Recycling EWaste Africa's contribution extends far beyond waste management. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Pravashen Naidoo, the company is deeply committed to social impact, particularly through job creation and skills development. South Africa faces high levels of graduate unemployment, with many young people struggling to secure work despite qualifications. EWaste Africa is helping to bridge this gap by offering opportunities in logistics, engineering, environmental science, administration, and business development. The company invests in training and internships, equipping graduates with the skills needed for the fast-growing green economy. Building a Circular Future For businesses, producers, and individuals, EWaste Africa is a partner that simplifies compliance, supports sustainability ambitions, and proves that waste can be transformed into opportunity. By combining innovation, accessibility, and social impact, the company is building a cleaner, greener, and more inclusive future for South Africa and beyond. Physical Address: 102 Shortts Retreat Road, Mkondeni, 3201, KwaZulu-Natal Tel: +27 (0)87 55 00 428 E-mail: info@ewasteafrica.net Website: www.ewasteafrica.net Physical Address: 102 Shortts Retreat Road, Mkondeni, 3201, KwaZulu-Natal Tel: +27 (0)87 55 00 428 E-mail: info@ewasteafrica.net Website: www.ewasteafrica.net Up Home Up Pravashen Naidoo Latest News More About Leaders EWaste Africa is an award-winning recycler of electronic and lighting waste, recognised for its legal compliance and environmentally ethical practices. Since its founding in 2014, the company has grown into one of Southern Africa's most innovative players in the e-waste sector. By working with corporates, producer responsibility organisations, government entities, and environmentally conscious citizens, it helps manage electronic waste in a way that is both sustainable and practical. Headquartered in Pietermaritzburg, EWaste Africa operates two advanced recycling facilities and manages a network of more than 80 public drop-off points across South Africa. With over 300 corporate clients, it provides an end-to-end service offering that covers on-site storage, collection, transportation, recycling, and the beneficiation of end products. EWaste Africa is a trusted partner for companies seeking to meet South Africa's e-waste requirements and align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and zero-waste-to-landfill goals. The company's approach is firmly rooted in the circular economy model, which transforms discarded materials into valuable resources and reduces reliance on raw extraction. Pioneering Light Bulb Recycling A defining achievement in the company's history was the commissioning of Africa's first commercial light bulb recycling plant in Pietermaritzburg. Prior to 2013, the continent lacked both the technology and expertise to recycle this waste stream effectively. The company now operates two hazardous waste management facilities and has already recycled more than 25 million light bulbs. Responsible Battery Management With the global rise of clean energy technologies, PV module waste has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges. EWaste Africa has developed a process to recycle the PV modules, recovering any metals and using the bulk of the module (which is mostly glass) in the production of interlocking eco pavers. These pavers are certified as green building material with 40% recycled content. By reducing the demand for virgin resources, EWaste Africa contributes directly to lowering the overall carbon footprint of the energy sector. Recycling Services The company's recycling portfolio is extensive. It can process anything that uses a plug or a battery to operate as well as any energy generating equipment. Electronic and electrical equipment, from household appliances to large industrial machinery, is dismantled carefully to reclaim valuable materials. IT and telecommunications equipment is treated with precision to maximise both component recovery and client rebates. Innovation at the Core Innovation lies at the heart of EWaste Africa. In partnership with the University of KwaZulu Natal and the Technology Innovation Agency, the company developed the LPx= machine, a world-first hydrometallurgical system that recovers rare earth metals and captures mercury with 99.9 per cent diversion from landfill. It also makes use of Balcan Engineering's internationally acclaimed lamp recycling system, which consumes less than 15 kW of energy and ensures that all by-products are reused. EWaste Africa's innovative methods for handling end-of-life photovoltaic panels earned it first place in the 2024 Circular Innovation Challenge. Further, in March 2024, EWaste Africa signed a memorandum of understanding with UK-based Watercycle Technologies to develop and deploy patented processes for recovering lithium carbonate from spent lithium iron phosphate batteries. This collaboration represents a milestone for ton-scale battery recycling and positions South Africa as a leader in advanced mineral recovery. Accessibility and Compliance Recognising the importance of convenience, EWaste Africa has introduced community collection containers in high-footfall areas such as shopping centres. These enable members of the public to drop off unwanted electronics quickly and without paperwork, creating a low-fuss solution that reduces both hazardous waste and carbon emissions. Compliance remains central to the company's operations. It aligns with South Africa's National Environmental Management: Waste Act, the National Road Traffic Act, municipal by-laws, and broader health and environmental regulations. With two national hazardous waste management licenses and multiple transport and storage registrations,EWaste Africa offers full legal assurance to its clients. It also collaborates with producer responsibility organisations to facilitate extended producer responsibility compliance for manufacturers, retailers, and distributors. A Vision Beyond Recycling EWaste Africa's contribution extends far beyond waste management. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Pravashen Naidoo, the company is deeply committed to social impact, particularly through job creation and skills development. South Africa faces high levels of graduate unemployment, with many young people struggling to secure work despite qualifications. EWaste Africa is helping to bridge this gap by offering opportunities in logistics, engineering, environmental science, administration, and business development. The company invests in training and internships, equipping graduates with the skills needed for the fast-growing green economy. Building a Circular Future For businesses, producers, and individuals, EWaste Africa is a partner that simplifies compliance, supports sustainability ambitions, and proves that waste can be transformed into opportunity. By combining innovation, accessibility, and social impact, the company is building a cleaner, greener, and more inclusive future for South Africa and beyond. Physical Address: 102 Shortts Retreat Road, Mkondeni, 3201, KwaZulu-Natal Tel: +27 (0)87 55 00 428 E-mail: info@ewasteafrica.net Website: www.ewasteafrica.net Latest News Company News Blog Keep up with the latest trends and insights. Check out our blog today! Read More Home Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

< Back Next Rob Kelso Rob Kelso is the chief executive officer of SA Home Loans Rob Kelso is the chief executive officer of SA Home Loans. He is a proud ‘Durban boy’ who was schooled at Westville Boys High School and then studied for a BCom at University of Natal, Howard College campus. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 2001, completing articles at the Deloitte Durban office and thereafter spent two and a half years in the audit and consulting practice. Rob has been with SA Home Loans for 19 years and during this time has worked across the breadth of the organisation including ten years as the chief financial officer. In this position he focused on entrenching and diversifying the securitisation and funding platform of the business, which he says is ’the life blood of what we do’. Rob then moved into the chief operating officer role, where he spent five years looking after the broader operations across the group, before being appointed CEO in 2021. His role is to execute on the strategy of the business across the SA Home Loans group, which includes the home loan, short term insurance and life insurance pillars. CHANGING LIVES Its unique position as a Durban based financial services head office and a national pioneer in the securitisation markets is, said Rob, what attracted him to SA Home Loans. “It was a rare opportunity in Durban to get into a business, which was in financial services, in the debt capital market side, and which was pioneering and offering an investment banking type of career.” Much of Rob’s career with SA Home Loans has been driven and inspired by the positive impact that the business has on people’s lives, especially first-time home owners. “Our mission statement is about changing lives; it’s about creating home ownership for all South Africans. That is a purpose which really resonates with me and has taken me a step beyond investment banking and accounting into a business where I feel we have a daily impact on our clients and the people around us.” In addition, as a corporate citizen, SA Home Loans prides itself on being an active and positive role model to the people and the communities it serves, which is equally important to him. On a professional level Rob counts among his accomplishments his participation in the team that built the SA Home Loans business from a small ‘newcomer’ into an established player in the national housing market and widely recognised as the preeminent securitisation issuer in the country. CAREER DEFINING MOMENT Rob says that the biggest career challenge he has faced was the global financial crisis back in 2009 and 2010, which had a profound impact on SA Home Loans, a relatively small, non-bank lender at the time. “The global financial markets were in turmoil and liquidity was really tough to come by. As a young newly appointed CFO that was a career defining moment in terms of the pressures and the lessons learned. But while stressful at the time, invaluable in terms of moulding and forging a way forward. Crisis often does teach the best lessons, and I look back at that period and say it was unpleasant, but for the business and personally, it was a hugely valuable growth experience.” While every business has its tough patches, the property market is cyclical so there is a continual need to motivate and keep people focused within the business. “As a team, good times are easy, the tough times are where the true mettle shows. If you build a team that trusts each other, who trusts the journey you’re on and doesn’t start to question the strategy or the direction as soon as things get tough, that’s a big step in terms of managing and getting through obstacles,” explained Rob. In addition, SA Home Loans are believers in ensuring that everybody is engaged in the business operations. “We’ve obviously had a number of challenges in KZN and South Africa in recent years where we as a business had to come together. If you as a management team are seen as present and engaged, that gives people the confidence to ride out those tough periods.” SA Home Loans are true believers in KZN’s potential as an employment and lifestyle destination of choice in the country. Rob said, ‘We are that rare animal with a financial services head office here in KZN, and the potential is enormous. We have the skill sets, there are people who live here and who want to live here. The question is, ‘How do we get everyone to work together to reclaim that space?” A ROLE MODEL Rob is guided to achieve by a number of principles. At a personal level he is inspired by the people closest to him and strives to act in a way that is admired and respected by his family and those around him, and which is true to his faith – no matter the role. To accomplish these goals, the best advice Rob has adopted is to ‘Be true to yourself’ and to be consistent and authentic in all avenues of life. “It’s great to have role models and people you look up to who have been successful. However, if you’re going to be successful, you can’t emulate others or be something that you’re not. In leadership that is a principle I hold quite close. I need to present in my professional career as I am in my personal life, so be true to my values, my morals, and my frameworks. An important cornerstone for me is to be able to say I deliver that in every aspect of life.” He believes in the power of asking the question ‘what is best?’. “What is the best about the person we work with? What is the best about the country where I live? I think that changes the narrative somewhat. There’s a lot to be positive about if you slip through the negativity, which I think we should all be looking to unlock,” concluded Rob. Previous Next

< Back Next Usha Jivan Usha Jivan is the managing director and sole shareholder of BEESCORE Usha Jivan has been the managing director and sole shareholder of BEESCORE, a Broad- based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) verification agency, since 2015. Together with three others, she was a co-founder of the company. Whilst most of Usha’s schooling was in Durban, she very much wanted to experience a different environment and attended a convent at a hill station in India where her best friend studied. Consequently, she spent two of her high school years there, which she said was an amazing adventure. Usha added that she had a great childhood, living in a closely knit joint household and she learnt much from her grandparents. Usha is a proud single mum to two children now aged 35 and 33. Her daughter is a counselling psychologist, and her son worked in the private equity space and is currently a venture capitalist across Africa. While she was still in high school, Usha spent her school holidays working in stores similar to our current Edgars and Truworths at that time. However, her first official job was at a law firm in Durban, where she completed her articles of clerkship after which she practised as an attorney. HUMAN RIGHTS “After marrying, I worked as an attorney in Port Elizabeth. In the earlier days we assisted and represented a lot of people dealing with human rights issues. I spent two years doing that kind of work, going into the prisons and to court, which was a wonderful experience.” The importance of human rights has been a consistent theme in Usha’s professional life. She has always been passionate about ensuring that oppressed/minority groups were granted equal rights, and that family laws that empower women and children were upheld. In 1994, she was offered a lecturing position at the University of Durban-Westville where she lectured on various subjects, including criminal law, civil procedure, and family law. USHA JIVAN Usha gave up her lecturing post to start BEESCORE in 2007. The company audits the BEE credentials of businesses and issues BEE certificates. “BEE is a subject that I became very passionate about once the whole concept was introduced to me,” she commented. Speaking of the advice she has received since the business started, Usha says this has been very varied. However, one of her mentors has been Murray Chabant, who was very ‘clued up’ on BEE then, and he assisted her to grow in the business. The other person of note is her ex-principal with whom she served her articles of clerkship. “This is a woman who today is about 87 years old. She still works; she continues going to her office every day. She is someone who has demonstrated power and resilience, which I admired. She was my go-to person, and she still inspires me. To this day, we still chat and meet for an occasional coffee.” A LEARNING EXPERIENCE The biggest challenge Usha experienced was when BEESCORE started operations, BEE legislation had just been promulgated. As the concept was new, it was a learning experience for everyone. The new regulations had no set standards with which to approach them, which was an obstacle and meant that Usha had to constantly upskill herself. A further challenge was that BEE verification was a grudge purchase for clients who were resistant to change. Usha’s role was to explain to clients the importance of this process as well as the potential impact on South Africa’s economic transformation. Shifting focus from being an academic and a lawyer, to adapt to a business mindset is a process that Usha has enjoyed. Being in business for the first time, at the company’s inception and contributing to building a successful business, has been a learning experience that has been extremely exciting for her. As BEESCORE was one of the earlier agencies to be accredited, Usha presented on many BEE seminars to educate business owners, both in Johannesburg and in Durban, which she counts among her achievements. More recently she has presented on BEE webinars for the South African Chamber of Commerce United Kingdom. Since 2015, Usha has been personally involved in all areas of the business. Commenting on her current role she explains: "Every year is different. My purpose now is to work ON my business as opposed to IN my business to grow the business further and to get more clients, while retaining the existing ones.” She would like to move the business from being an exempt micro enterprise to become a qualifying small enterprise. SPIRIT OF HUMANITY In addition, Usha’s goal is to elevate and grow her team so that when she is ready to retire or to slow down, they can take over. Her team members are fully equipped to do so and two employees – who have managerial roles – have been with her for over ten years. “We’re a small team of seven females and one wonderful gentleman who work together very well. We are all committed to playing our part and achieving the company’s mission. Our inspiration comes from weekly meetings. We talk about not only our work, but about ourselves because it’s especially important to inspire your team. We also celebrate our successes.” Usha explains that she likes to live by the spirit of humanity, what we in South Africa call the principle of Ubuntu. Her motto is to be authentic, to live her authentic self, to be honest, and to have a work-life balance. First and foremost, says Usha, investing in herself, physically and spiritually, is important. “I take care of my mind and my body, and my health. I am learning to practice yoga and meditation. I enjoy my brisk walking and running a few times a week.” “Also, I think it’s important to make time for the people I love and the people I want be with, and the closest to me are my son and daughter, as well as my team.” Previous Next