Reflecting on his education, Mzi commented, “I have gathered many other qualifications along the way, but I speak fondly of my time at the University of KwaZulu-Natal because that is where my beginning is.” Mzi also holds an MBA degree from UNISA among his other postgraduate qualifications Subscribe Home KZN Leaders Up Up Mzi Tyhokolo Reflecting on his education, Mzi commented, “I have gathered many other qualifications along the way, but I speak fondly of my time at the University of KwaZulu-Natal because that is where my beginning is.” Mzi also holds an MBA degree from UNISA among his other postgraduate qualifications Creating solutions that touch the world Mzi Tyhokolo describes himself as a typical South African. He was born and raised in the Free State by a single mother. His education was traditional, and a Sasol bursary enabled him to study chemistry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal from where he graduated with honours. Mzi then went to work at Sasol Gas where his long journey within the gas industry started. He joined SLG in 2006 where his 14 year career resulted in his appointment as Group CEO SLG in 2020. Reflecting on his education, Mzi commented, “I have gathered many other qualifications along the way, but I speak fondly of my time at the University of KwaZulu-Natal because that is where my beginning is.” Mzi also holds an MBA degree from UNISA among his other postgraduate qualifications. During his school years, Mzi dreamt of becoming a doctor and in particular a paediatrician because he has a love for children and has always wanted to make them feel good. “My second choice was science because I thought that if I could not be a doctor, I would be involved in creating the solutions that would ultimately touch the world in one way or another.” Although chemistry wasn’t Mzi’s first choice for a career he quickly realised that mainstream chemistry was not in line with his personality, and he had long discussions with the Sasol human resources department to change careers. He was advised to complete his degree and soon after graduation found himself in technical sales on the gas marketing side. “I used my background in chemistry and decided that this is where I would build a career. I stayed in the gas space and developed my knowledge in the energy sector, which brought me to a place where I now lead the second largest gas trading company in South Africa.” In commenting on challenges he has faced in his journey to the top, Mzi said that his was a typical life of a black South African born in the mid-1970s growing up in various townships where challenges abounded. “We faced challenges every day.” One of the challenges that stands out for him is that Mzi thought that his education would not progress beyond matric “simply because there was no money for further education”. “I can remember sitting and agonising over the future that I wanted to have, which was to become a medical doctor and wondering just how I would achieve this dream. I wrote twenty-four letters applying for bursaries to various institutions. Twenty-two came back with replies saying ‘declined’ because no one was giving bursaries for medical students in those days. It was heart-breaking and it’s one of my earliest challenges; wherein you had a dream and the biggest decision that you had to make was how do you make it happen? Subsequent to that challenge everything else has looked minor. If you develop big muscles to deal with big issues quite early in your life you get some resilience, which helps you overcome most things.” Mzi is the first-born child in his family so there were big expectations placed on him. Because he was raised by a single mother one of those was to become a father figure within the family. “This role helped shaped my character from an early age and is the reason for whom I am today.” The first multiracial environment that Mzi was in, was in his first year of university. “The cultural shock, the transition that was needed, my ability to adapt or die meant some big calls needed to be made. It was at a time in South Africa where we just got introduced to democracy, with all the turmoil that brought. If you made it through those days, then the South Africa of today is a little bit of a breeze.” Mzi believes that his successes are driven by two things. He explains, “I always refer to myself as a pit-bull. If I set my mind on something it takes quite a lot to knock me down. I am the guy who says as long as I have an ability to keep going, I am going to keep going. Once I start it’s very hard to stop until I see the results of my pursuit. I have resilience to be able to stay the course – falling but knowing exactly how to get up and I think that comes from my childhood. As a child I never had much but I had a mind, so I tried to access all the possibilities of getting something done. I always believe that if your intention is not to succeed at something then don’t start – it’s a waste of energy.” Secondly, family life is important to Mzi, and he tries to give as much as possible to everyone who depends on him – his wife and his children as well as his mother and his brothers. Significantly, Mzi says that his grandmother is his primary inspiration. “She did not have much to work with or much of an education but was able to build a strong family foundation and raise six grandchildren, while her own children were out at work trying to eke out a living. She was that dependable, capable beacon of hope. I do what I do today, in her memory.” The second source of inspiration is his family. “They inspire me every day to get up and do what I do and achieve the dreams that I have for myself. I’ve always aspired to live a life of significance. I want to live, not just be alive – there is a major difference.” Mzi’s goals for the future are to build a legacy where people can say that they were inspired to achieve what they have by him. He explained, “I get commitment from my team by looking in the mirror. By that I mean that I don’t follow people who impose authority. My type of leadership is transformational or servant leadership; humility is huge. I try to be that person that they want to be. The team at SLG don’t actually have to follow me, I want them to choose to follow me. I do what I need to do in order for that to happen.” In respect of business goals, Mzi believes that SLG is a little ‘dynamite’, that has much potential energy stored which needs to be unleashed. “We always talk of ourselves as the second largest trader of natural gas in the country – second only to Sasol Gas. However, we have achieved so much in a short period of having been in business. I certainly believe we can lead the natural gas revolution in this country, and I want SLG in my time as a leader to actually be very much advanced in achieving that goal or have achieved it before I transition to wherever else I wind up. I think that the team I have around me today is very well capable of getting us there.” Mzi finds it hard to disconnect or let off some steam as there is always “something you are thinking about”. However, what helps him to disconnect from the world is fishing. “I am an avid bass angler which I do with diligence and craziness sometimes. I also represent the country in international events – that is the one space that when the whistle blows for us to start my mind thinks of nothing else but the fish. It’s my therapy, it’s my psychiatrist and it is everything that I need to recharge and to be able to face the world again the next day.” In concluding, Mzi says his motto to live by is: “If you are going to do anything, give it your all, and do it to your utmost.”

Colle has spent the last eleven years with Belgotex and was appointed as CEO of Belgotex in August 2018. He has a passion for the industry which motivates him daily and is committed to building the company's brand. Sustainability in all aspects of the business is central to the way Belgotex does business. Colle brings a unique perspective to the business Subscribe Home KZN Leaders Up Up Edward Colle Colle has spent the last eleven years with Belgotex and was appointed as CEO of Belgotex in August 2018. He has a passion for the industry which motivates him daily and is committed to building the company's brand. Sustainability in all aspects of the business is central to the way Belgotex does business. Colle brings a unique perspective to the business Through my eyes, there can't be black and white EDWARD COLLE, after completing his studies at Stellenbosch, Colle spent four years working in one of his mother's businesses before officially joining Belgotex. He views this time as vital to his professional development, and the broad foundation he gained in this smaller business has stood him in good stead in his career at Belgotex. Belgotex was founded in the 1950s and evolved into a multi-national corporate spanning five continents. Despite being brought up in the flooring industry and being the third generation in this family-owned business, Colle earned his stripes before being promoted to the executive team. Starting on the factory floor, he moved slowly through the business, taking learnings from each stage of his journey and getting to know the staff on a personal level. Colle has spent the last eleven years with Belgotex and was appointed as CEO of Belgotex in August 2018. He has a passion for the industry which motivates him daily and is committed to building the company's brand. Sustainability in all aspects of the business is central to the way Belgotex does business. Colle brings a unique perspective to the business. He is acutely aware of the value of multiple insights and diversity of opinion, and says this inclusive attitude allows him to have an objective view of the world. This embodies his philosophy that there is no black or white in life and that your experiences and exposure to life are going to inform your perspective. Colle has a progressive management style and strongly supports the concept of the win-win approach. He has a clear vision for the future of Belgotex and the company continually strives to develop the business and inspire their people to achieve the unimaginable. Colle credits his ability to empathise with others, and trying to understand other people's viewpoints, as a strength that he contributed to his success. He points out that challenging the status quo is not always plain sailing, but by doing so they create greater opportunities and a greater meaning in what they do. "When facing challenges," says Colle, "managing your frustrations and focusing on your objectives are essential." The "Belgotex Green Journey" was initiated well before he joined the company, and he is committed to taking it to the next level. He views the environmental sustainability of the business as best practice, and as a never-ending journey. "On a fundamental level, if we cannot look after our planet and the society that occupies it, we will have a very dysfunctional set of circumstances which will put immense pressure on business, as the environment will not be conducive to any form of growth." Belgotex believes wholeheartedly in a 'hand-up' rather than a 'hand-out' approach, and Colle is co-founder of the Belgotex Foundation which was established seven years ago. The Foundation's focus was initially focused on three key areas: wildlife conservation, early childhood development and economic upliftment through vocational training, but has recently morphed into something much bigger. "We're proud to be associated with initiatives that support the efforts of communities and individuals to improve their socio-economic circumstances," says Colle. "And we have the opportunity to make a significant difference in society through the scale we've created." On a personal level, Colle and his wife Sarah are embarking on a 90-hectare agricultural restoration project. Sarah is a chef by profession so has always had a passion for food. Their plan is to run a training facility for the community in which they live so that these skills can be transferred and create a restaurant and deli which serves all the local ingredients to its patrons. "I'm not sure that we will ever find the perfect balance in life between work, family and social," says Colle, "but we try to juggle these three balls as effectively as possible."

< Back Rashika Reddy Manager of Coastal Farmers Eshowe Rashika Reddy, manager of Coastal Farmers Eshowe, has built a remarkable 21year career in the agricultural sector, a journey defined by perseverance, leadership and a passion for empowering others. Coastal Farmers, a proudly established agricultural cooperative, will celebrate its 80th anniversary next year, marking eight decades of dedication, growth and service to the farming community. The company supports a diverse agricultural environment, working closely with both large commercial and small-scale emerging farmers across KwaZulu-Natal. “Our business serves the farming sector with a wide range of agricultural inputs, including chemicals, fertilisers, animal feeds and general farm supplies,” Rashika explained. “We work with cane, macadamia and mixed-crop farmers, from Mtubatuba in the north, right down to Port Edward and Port Shepstone in the south.” Rashika’s journey with Coastal Farmers began at just 21 years old. “It was my third job, and I wanted to grow within a company where I could feel grounded and appreciated,” she recalled. Starting as a sales assistant at the Eshowe branch, her determination quickly set her apart. “After only six months, I was transferred to the Gingindlovu branch, where I was trained as an assistant manager by the person who is now my regional manager. As the years went by, I was promoted back to Eshowe as assistant manager and later became branch manager at Nkwaleni, inland near Melmoth. I managed that branch for five years before moving to the larger Eshowe branch in 2015, where I continue to serve today.” For Rashika each milestone represented more than a professional achievement, it reflected personal growth. “I’ve always wanted to be the chief executive officer of my own company,” she said confidently. “I love business, and I love being in boardrooms. Women belong in spaces of influence and decision-making. We are powerful and capable of transforming any environment we step into.” ROOTED IN FAMILY Rashika credits her grandparents as her greatest inspiration. “I was raised by my grandmother and grandfather from the time I was a day old. They taught me values that still guide me today and that I now pass on to my daughter,” she shared. “My grandfather taught me to be outspoken, resilient, and to never settle for less. It’s a pity he isn’t here to witness my achievements because I know he would have been so proud. Today, I can confidently say I am a woman of substance and worth.” At Coastal Farmers, Rashika has forged strong connections within the farming community. “Many of my clients own multiple farms and rely on me for advice and support. I also take pride in leading and empowering my team, inspiring them to grow and take on leadership roles. Seeing my staff develop into capable leaders is one of my proudest achievements.” Her dedication has earned her several accolades, including the Cedric Knight Trophy for top sales performance and Top Performer 2010. “Throughout my career, I’ve placed first, second, and third in both sales and expense management,” she said. “These achievements remind me that consistency and hard work always pay off.” FINDING HER VOICE In 2023, Rashika took a bold step into a new space by entering the Haut Monde Mrs India Worldwide pageant held in Dubai. “I wanted to explore something more feminine,” she said with a smile. “I competed with 109 women from across the globe and was crowned the South African Country Winner. It was a phenomenal experience that reinforced my belief in the strength of women.” Her pageant journey continued in 2024 when she participated in the Supreme Queen Global Earth Africa pageant in Johannesburg, where she earned the title of Second Princess. She now serves as an Alumni Ambassador for the Supreme Queen Group. “Pageantry helped me discover my strength and substance as a woman,” she reflected. “For a long time, I was told what I couldn’t do or where I didn’t belong. But I learned to build my character and confidence. Today, I know that women are capable of achieving anything they set their minds to, we define our own worth.” Beyond her corporate and pageantry pursuits, Rashika is also a motivational speaker, leadership and development coach, and philanthropist. In 2023, she launched a period poverty initiative to support rural schools around Eshowe. “Helping young girls access basic hygiene products is something close to my heart,” she explained. “It’s about restoring dignity and ensuring that no girl misses school because of her period.” Her message to others is both powerful and personal: “Go after your dreams and never let anyone’s disbelief define your limits. When you believe in yourself and push through barriers, you will discover your strength and become a powerhouse that no one can take away from you.” INSPIRING CONFIDENCE In addition to her work and advocacy, Rashika is developing her personal brand, Atelier Rashika, a clothing and makeup line designed to inspire confidence in women. “My dream is to build a globally recognised brand that celebrates beauty and self-assurance,” she shared. “It’s not just about glitz and glamour, it’s about transformation. When a woman wears my design or uses my makeup, I want her to feel powerful and connected to my story.” Rashika also finds balance through movement in community. “I’m a Zumba instructor,” she laughed. “There are days when I walk into class exhausted after work, but as soon as I see the women in the room, I draw energy from them. It is not just a fitness class. It is a space where women come together, support one another, and remind each other that we are strong. We leave feeling uplifted.” As she reflects on her journey, Rashika feels gratitude for the women who walk alongside her. “It is such an honour to be among women who smile, empower, and motivate each other,” she said. “We are resilient, and we continue to climb higher together." Previous Next