Vivian Reddy Next Previous Vivian Reddy is the founder and chairperson of the Edison Power Group Vivian Reddy is the founder and chairperson of the Edison Power Group. From humble beginnings, armed with little more than a borrowed bakkie and R500, he has built a business empire that spans multiple industries. Vivian’s entrepreneurial career began in the apartheid era, where being a non-white business owner came with numerous obstacles. “When I started my company, it was called Reddy Electrical, but we couldn’t get any contracts because of my surname,” he recalls. Recognising the barriers created by the political climate, he changed the name to Edison Power. “Suddenly, people started calling and I had to pretend to be Mr Edison to get work.” This tactic, born out of necessity, laid the foundation for what would become one of South Africa’s leading electrical companies. Vivian’s first job was a steep learning curve. “I thought I knew what I was doing as I was highly technically qualified but financially, it was a disaster. We worked tirelessly to get the contact completed but my lack of business acumen meant the job almost ruined me.” However, Vivian refused to be defeated. His motivation was fuelled by an encounter he had as a teenager when he met astronaut Neil Armstrong at the 1971 World Scout Jamboree in Japan. Armstrong’s words stuck with him: “He told me, ‘If you can dream it, you can achieve it. Perseverance prevails when all else fails.’” Vivian clung to these words when a client went bankrupt, leaving him owed R26 000 at a time when a new bakkie cost R7 500. Yet, remembering Armstrong’s advice, he was determined not to let this setback defeat him. He approached everyone he owed money to, explained his situation, and promised to repay them. “Nine months later, I had paid off all of my debts,” Vivian proudly states. Through this, he learned that people appreciate honesty and transparency. “It’s when you run away from your problems that you lose people’s trust.” As his business grew, so did his involvement in South Africa’s political landscape. In the 1990s, as apartheid was ending, Vivian’s company was one of the few contractors working in South Africa’s black townships. “We electrified hundreds of schools, and it was during this time that I met many political activists,” explained Vivian. His relationship with the African National Congress deepened, and he provided financial support to leaders like Winnie Mandela with whom he shared a close relationship. This support forged a bond with Nelson Mandela. “After Mandela was released, I was invited to a home where he and Winnie were visiting. I’ll never forget the moment when he hugged me and introduced himself as ‘Nelson Mandela,’ as if I didn’t know who he was,” Vivian laughs. Over time, Vivian would accompany Mandela on several international trips, including a ticker-tape parade in New York and a visit to London’s Trafalgar Square, where nearly a million people gathered to meet Mandela. SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES Vivian’s success extends beyond the electrical industry. He ventured into the casino business, fulfilling a dream he’d had since his youth. Eventually, Vivian owned five casinos, including the Sibaya and Pietermaritzburg casinos. Despite having little experience in the gaming industry, he partnered with experts, a strategy that served him well in other ventures. Vivian’s business instincts led him to opportunities, such as entering the banknote industry. A chance meeting with the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia sparked his interest in polymer banknotes. “I was fascinated by these new polymer notes that couldn’t tear and lasted much longer than paper notes,” Vivian recalls. He saw an opportunity to market these notes in Africa, a move that proved highly successful. During the South African Post Office’s outsourced management process, Vivian’s consortium, including New Zealand Post, won the contract to manage the service. Over four years, his team and the New Zealand partners transformed the South African Post Office, delivering over a million post boxes, especially in rural areas, and turning it into a profitable venture. Another example of Vivian’s approach came during the World AIDS Conference in Durban, where he saw an opportunity to enter the healthcare sector. His team discovered a company called Orasure Technologies, which had developed the world’s first AIDS oral testing device, using a gum swab that could diagnose HIV in minutes. The venture became a massive success, demonstrating once again Vivian’s ability to seize opportunities in unfamiliar industries. Vivian’s ventures continued to expand to be one of the founders of YFM radio. His property development portfolio includes award winning projects such as Oceans Umhlanga, Africa’s largest mixed- use development. The R4.5 billion project includes the luxurious Radisson Blu Hotel and the Oceans Mall, a high-end shopping mall featuring global fashion brands like Gucci, Burberry, and Versace, and 560 residential units. Throughout his career, Vivian has remained committed to philanthropy. His company and associated trusts have donated over R280 million to charitable causes and supports 180 welfare organisations. They provide 20,000 meals a day via various feeding schemes. “Our contributions have helped change the lives of over 86,000 under-privileged people in KwaZulu-Natal,” Vivian says proudly. He believes that businesses must contribute to society to create sustainable prosperity. “We cannot live on an island of prosperity surrounded by a sea of poverty. That’s a recipe for disaster.” Vivian’s philosophy of constant and never-ending improvement (CANEI) drives both his personal and professional life. “Every day, I ask myself, ‘How can I improve?’ Not just in business but in how I treat people, my family, and myself.” At 71, Vivian remains active and energetic, attributing his vitality to regular exercise, a healthy diet, and a positive mindset. “If you don’t look after your health, no amount of wealth will matter,” he advises. Vivian shows no signs of slowing down, with ongoing projects in Dubai and South Africa, he continues to pursue new ventures. His advice to entrepreneurs is simple: “Dream big, take risks, and never stop learning. And most importantly “NEVER EVER GIVE UP”. The world is full of opportunities, you just have to be bold enough and act as an eagle to seize them.” Previous Next

Terry Rosenberg Next Previous Terry Rosenberg is the Chairman of Oakbrook Investments and Oakbrook Holdings Terry Rosenberg is a long-time resident of Durban, with a wealth of experience in the business world. Originally from Johannesburg, he received his education at Marist Brothers and at the University of the Witwatersrand. Terry’s career began in computer consulting, where he joined a firm that he remained with for 16 years, ultimately becoming its leader. Following this time, he embarked on a leveraged buyout with a colleague, taking a company off the Stock Exchange and working to revitalise it. After successfully restoring the company, they merged with McCarthy’s, the largest car retailer in southern Africa. In the year 2000 Terry went into a family office, where he has worked ever since. Now in his 50th year in business, Terry remains enthusiastic about his work. “As long as I am spared, I’ll still be doing business because I really enjoy it,” he stated. His joy comes not only from the work itself but also from engaging with people and witnessing their growth. WORKING TIRELESSLY Among his achievements, Terry is particularly proud of his role in establishing Durban as a key convention hub in southern Africa. He reflected on an initiative that began about 23 years ago, alongside the late Gordon Hibbert and fellow businessman Andrzej Kiepiela. They envisioned making Durban the convention centre of southern Africa and worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life. In order to make this vision a reality, a private public partnership called Operation Jumpstart was established. “After four years of ups and downs, we managed to install the convention centre in Durban,” Terry said. The project was initially nerve-wracking, with uncertainty over whether conferences would come. However, their efforts paid off, and today, the Durban International Convention Centre is firmly established, having over time, brought an estimated R30 billion into the city. Terry’s strong connection to KwaZulu-Natal continues and he is optimistic about the province’s future development. He believes that as improvements become evident, confidence will naturally return. Speaking from his vantage point at the Umhlanga Arch, a prominent building with a 360° view of Durban, he marvelled at the natural beauty of the region. He emphasises the region’s strengths, particularly its beautiful weather and diverse attractions, from the North Coast to the Midlands and beyond. “Wherever I can put in my two cents worth,” he explained, “I get involved in various things where hopefully we can help the business community really build this province into the place that it should be.” He noted that the business community is working closely with the government to address key areas of concern, including water, sewage, electricity, and the port. Despite past leadership challenges, Terry sees progress and is encouraged by the strong cooperation between the business community and local authorities. He remains committed to contributing towards making KwaZulu-Natal one of South Africa’s leading provinces. “I’m very enthusiastic. As long as we’ve got plans and people are working honestly towards those plans, it brings hope.” NEVER GIVE UP Terry finds immense joy in collaborating with his team, particularly in understanding the diverse personalities and motivations of his key executives. “People are very different, and it’s difficult to get everyone singing from the same sheet,” he explained. Success, for Terry, lies in knowing what makes each team member tick. He also highlighted the importance of knowing who he is dealing with around the board table. “You may have five people sitting there, all from different backgrounds with different views on life,” he said. Terry emphasised the importance of defining any problems clearly. “It’s up to you as a leader to take out of them what their problem is, rather than what they think their problem is.” By fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose, Terry ensures that his team works together effectively, much like a rugby team where each player has a unique but essential role. In addition, he explained, “So many times, people in negotiations or complex situations attack the symptoms rather than the root of the issue.” One example from his own career involved a business division that was underperforming. Initially, the discussion centred on operations, but the real issue turned out to be the limited availability of transport that brought many of their customers to the store. “Once we knew what the problem was, we were able to make plans to fix it,” he said. While Terry does not have a specific motto, his attitude towards life is to never give up. “So many times when problems hit, people stand back and say, ‘This will never work.’ I’m very much against that,” he stated. For Terry, perseverance is key, especially when there is still hope in a situation. His approach is to keep trying different solutions, leveraging his network, and staying committed to the task at hand. SUPPORT AND GROWTH While Terry’s steadiness has ensured that most of his endeavours have been ‘smooth sailing’ he has also experienced some setbacks. In such circumstances, Terry’s faith has helped him rise above the disappointments. His favourite scripture reads: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Terry shared that the greatest personal challenge he has faced was the sudden loss of a child. He and his wife, Carol, were profoundly affected by the tragedy. “It really knocked us for a long period of time,” he admitted, adding that they eventually managed to move forward. This experience led to deeper connections with others who had faced similar losses, providing opportunities for mutual support and growth. “It’s not something I would recommend to anyone if they’re wanting to grow,” Terry remarked, reflecting on the difficulty of the situation. In summary, Terry is a steadfast and deeply motivated individual, driven by his passion for business, his faith, and his desire to see growth and success both in his personal life and in the community around him. Previous Next

< Back Phone Company Registration No VAT Number Year Establised Website URL https://cannectdigital.com/ B-BBEE Level Level 2 Gabriel Test CEO DETAILS Tevin CEO Phone MANAGEMENT TEAM Nabeel 1 eman@connect.com Phone EMan 2 eman@connect.com Phone Camin 3 carmin@connect.com Phone CONTACT COMPANY HEAD OFFICE ADDRESS Address City / Town Province Postal Code PRIMARY CONTACT Title First Name Gabriel Surname Designation / Job Title Mobile Number 0817971234 Email Address gav@connect.com Office Number COMPANY PROFILE Company Description This is a Test Company Core Products Product 1 SOCIAL MEDIA Phone Insta Linkedin Tik Tok Tik Tok Previous Next

You have to be flexible about your methods, but obstinate about your goalsMagdelene Van Der Walt < Back Magdelene Van Der Walt Founder and director of The Busy Bookkeeper & Partners Magdelene (Mags) van der Walt is the founder of The Busy Bookkeeper and Partners. Her company is a virtual firm that provides accounting, tax, payroll, and secretarial solutions, as well as advisory and finance assistance to small businesses across South Africa. She has established partnerships to meet certain of clients’ needs with brands such as Rison Financialist, Sage, Merchant Capital, and IronTree, to name a few. The Busy Bookkeeper started out as a sole proprietor back in 2015 until Mags decided to formalise the business in 2017 as a registered company. Mags is very proud of her company’s achievements, which include being awarded third place in the Best of Durban, Readers’ Choice Awards 2023. She commented that this award, “Just lets me know that we’re doing something incredible; it was fantastic that people chose to honour us.” In April this year, after a near nervous breakdown due to overwork, Mags reached out to her partners at Rison Financialist and asked them to take on a more active role in the company. At the same time, she hired her first assistant. Sheer determination Mags explained that she got the business to this point by sheer determination. She said, “It’s been a real challenge for me to get to where I am today; from being a teen mum to a high school dropout, to having to study something that I didn’t really want to.” Mags went back to school in her early 20s, stuck with her subject choice through ups and downs, and has built a career around bookkeeping. At the point in life when she was unhappy at the company she was working for and recovering from a divorce, Mags decided that she needed to ‘break up’ with every toxic thing in her life. She explained, “I used my final bonus from my final job to purchase some office equipment with no capital and sheer determination to buy back my life. I don’t drive, so I built a virtual firm. I have worked – often – more than 12 hours a day, seven days a week to build a business from scratch with every single free resource that I could find on the internet because I had debts to pay, erratic income, and children to feed so I couldn’t qualify for any credit. I have often questioned my own sanity, but sheer determination and creative thinking have gotten me through every single challenge that I have faced. Failure isn’t in my vocabulary. I either win or I learn. And despite the challenges, the depression and struggling with imposter syndrome, the hair loss, and sleepless nights, I wouldn’t change a single thing because it refined me.” Mags decided that the business would have a few clients, and some affiliates and that she would have a blog. The company, however, laughed Mags, had its own mind. More and more people started coming to them, and while she said it’s just been hard work, the company has continued to grow. Immediate family Her motivation to achieve success has always been her immediate family. Mags said that her biggest dream was to own her life; to be able to fully support herself and her family and not have to rely on anyone. “It’s a simple dream, but simple doesn’t always mean easy,” she explained. Mags added, “I only ever want them to be proud of me and to inspire them. I want them to know that they can achieve anything in life simply by working hard and being committed to their goals.” A solid why The advice that Mags would give is that you need to set yourself a real solid ‘Why’ to revisit when life gets tough. In her case, giving her family and herself a better life was the driving force behind every decision she ever made, which got her through some really dark periods. “You know if you really want to get to where you want to be in life, you’ve got to be prepared to sacrifice. You have to do things that others won’t. You can achieve whatever you set your mind to if you are committed enough. You also have to be flexible about your methods, but obstinate about your goals.” And added Mags, “Try to be grateful, always. The universe will bless you with more reasons to be grateful if you foster this attitude.” A safe culture Providing a safe culture for female entrepreneurs is a key driver for The Busy Bookkeeper. “We hire young moms. I give them flexible hours so that they’re able to work whenever they need to around raising their children in a safe environment.” Commenting on the future, Mags says her goals are to make more of an impact by expanding The Busy Bookkeeper’s reach. She says, “I want to serve more small businesses, both local and global, and offer them access to affordable, quality services. I have plans to start other ventures when things settle down at The Busy Bookkeeper based on some current needs that I have identified as well.” Mags added that she always wanted to be an author as a child, which was realised during the Covid-19 pandemic. She participated in a book project with another 120 female entrepreneurs across the globe on navigating the pandemic. Mags has also written some e-books on starting a small business in South Africa. Relaxation for Mags is meditation, spirituality, and spending time with her family. As a spiritual person, she would like to take time out to travel to sacred locations across the globe, starting with Adam’s Calendar in South Africa. Mags would also like a guilt-free holiday as she hasn’t had a holiday in over seven years. Top Business Women In reflecting on her participation in KZN Top Business Women, Mags says it’s been absolutely amazing. “It lets me know that despite the circumstances, if you really work hard enough and you focus on being a decent human being, people will recognise your achievements.”

Mayor: Cllr S S Gumede KZN Top Business Subscribe iLembe District Municipality iLembe District Municipality is well positioned between two of the busiest ports in Africa, namely Durban and Richards Bay. In addition, the municipality's proximity to King Shaka International Airport, new schools, hospitals, regional retail centres and multiple recreation options, as well as the temperate climate, are critical features of this north coast region. Rapidly Growing Economic Corridor iLembe District Municipality is well positioned between two of the busiest ports in Africa, namely Durban and Richards Bay. In addition, the municipality’s proximity to King Shaka International Airport, new schools, hospitals, regional retail centres and multiple recreation options, as well as the temperate climate, are critical features of this north coast region. iLembe consists of the following local municipalities: KwaDukuza, Mandeni, Maphumulo and Ndwedwe. The district is made up of 45 Traditional Authorities (TA) areas where settlement is controlled according to a traditional land tenure system. The diverse culture of this region has been shaped by people from three continents; Africa, India, and Europe, offering a unique vibrancy to the municipality. iLembe District is committed to people’s development, building unity and a sense of belonging across racial and cultural barriers. In KwaDukuza, Ballito is the central business hub for the rapidly growing economic corridor between Umhlanga and Richards Bay. The municipality has several well-established and popular tourism and residential developments including Brettenwood, Zimbali, Simbithi, Dunkirk, Seaward, Shortens, Umhlali Country Club, Caledon and Palm Lakes. Many others are under development. Mandeni Local Municipality is located midway between Durban and Richards Bay, and lies on the development corridor on the north coast between these two major port cities in KwaZulu-Natal. The municipality is strategically located to provide service and derive economic benefits from this development corridor. Industrial development is concentrated in KwaDukuza, iSithebe and Darnall, most notably the Gledhow and Darnall sugar milling operations at Stanger and the Sappi Paper mills at Mandeni. The commercial farming areas of KwaDukuza, Mandeni and Ndwedwe (31% of the iLembe District) are mainly under privately owned sugar cane. The most distinguishable characteristic of the Maphumulo Local Municipality is its predominantly rural nature. Sugar cane cultivation is the main economic activity and land use in the municipality. Ndwedwe Local Municipality consists mainly of poor black communities whose livelihood depends on subsistence farming. The northern areas of Ndwedwe, the central corridor of Mandeni and KwaDukuza Municipality are the commercial farming hubs of the district, which include forestry, fruit and vegetable farming, tunnel farming, and fresh cut flowers. Village centres such as Maphumulo and Ndwedwe in the West, Nyoni and Mbizimbelwa in the north, comprise of commercial and service development in the rural areas. They largely exist in association with a magistrate’s court, clinic, pension pay point, health, education and welfare office or similar state service. Despite its strategic location, iLembe faces numerous economic challenges such as the high levels of poverty in the rural inland areas, which contrasts with rapid development along its coastal regions. The District has been proactive in developing Enterprise iLembe, a broad-based institution aimed at facilitating local economic development in response to its challenges of high rates of unemployment and correspondingly high levels of poverty. CONTACT DETAILS Physical Address: iLembe House, 59/61 Mahatma Gandhi Street, KwaDukuza, 4450 Postal Address: P.O. Box 1788, KwaDukuza, 4450 Tel: +27 (0)32 437 9300 Website: www.ilembe.gov.za Back

Shaaz Moosa Next Previous Shaaz Moosa is the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of Supahot Geysers and MS Group Holdings Shaaz Moosa is the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of Supahot Geysers and MS Group Holdings. His business career has been motivated by his family who have all operated business enterprises. Straight after finishing matric, and with their support, Shaaz started his own business journey in the insurance industry. This experience taught him a lot about communicating with people, about how money works as well as the finance industry. He quickly decided to become an independent insurance broker and applied for his license. By the age of 19 he had multiple contracts. However, Shaaz commented that he realised that the insurance industry did not offer the long-term business growth, which would enable him to reach his goals. Consequently, he started dabbling in a variety of businesses including the property market. In 2006 Shaaz’s father tragically passed away and his entire world changed as Shaaz was now required to be the family leader and take care of everyone. HARD WORK While looking for other business opportunities, Shaaz got involved with the Scooters’ pizza brand, opening up Halaal stores. He explained, “Over three years, we opened up multiple stores and I soon realised that this is very hard work as the effort to financial reward did not make sense. I found that it was better for me to open up stores and sell them off. Whilst doing that I was buying one/two- bedroom apartments, as at that time the avenue to credit was quite easy.” As the values of properties was going up, when Shaaz sold these properties off, he was able to build an asset base. “I realised unintentionally, that I’d become a serial businessman. At the time FNB invited myself and a close friend of mine, who has passed away, to do a mini-MBA. He convinced me to do this mini- MBA with him, which we completed in just over a year.” Shaaz said the course was self-empowering and due to his practical business experience, he understood finances better, and he was able to enhance himself. Shaaz mentioned that he has always had good teams and support structures. His mom, wife, as well as his family, and ‘phenomenal’ friends are always willing to assist. He explained, “It’s not about finance, it’s about hearing you, guiding you, motivating you, and being able to learn from people and what they’ve done over the years. I think that experience is the basis for the success of who I am today.” GIVE FROM WHAT YOU HAVE In commenting on his motivation to succeed, Shaaz said, “I strongly believe that if you do the right things, the Almighty opens up the doors for you. If you assist the community, your people, family, etc, then the Almighty will give you more. That is the advice that I give to every young person today. Don’t wait until you have money, give from what you have, and the Almighty is going to give you more. And if you’re doing right, with the right moral compass, the Almighty will certainly make sure that he gives you that responsibility.” “You have to give back into your communities. You have to give back to your family, whether it’s in time or money. You have to include people and by doing that, success is automatic. We must understand that success is not just measured in finances, there’s no point in having lots of money if you’re not a person that one can sit and talk to.” “The rule that I would advise to anybody who wants to do anything, is to give 5% more. Because that 5% more is what allows you to be better than the rest. I use an analogy of boiling water, and it’s a 5% rule. I’m in the geyser business, so I can be more technical about it,” he said with a smile. “Water boils at 100°C. At 100° C what that process can do is limitless. You can create power, and from that power you can create electricity, steam trains, etc. At 95°C what can you do? Have a cup of tea and that’s all. That 5% extra is what unlocks the multitude of other things that you can do, and to achieve that you’ve just got to persevere, be consistent and disciplined.” In addition to the 5% rule, Shaaz said that if you look at the top 100 companies in the world and their CEOs and founders, they have the quality of starting early. “When I say starting early, I’m talking about the 4:00 am rule. One should start work early and that allows you to work hard.” Shaaz’s career has not been without challenges, which in his early days included a lack of credit facilities due to his young age. This challenge forced him to be more creative and to look at out- of-the-box solutions. One solution was to develop business partnerships, and Shaaz now has multiple partners in a range of businesses and projects. In commenting on his leadership style, Shaaz says he prefers working with inclusion rather than in an authoritative style. “I’m surrounded by a phenomenal team, and I prefer having the buy in and understanding from our key staff. We set up our plan and our mission for what we’re wanting to achieve. Including our staff in this process has led to the success of our business.” Shaaz started the Supahot geyser journey in 2018 and the company has now become the third geyser manufacturer in the country. He explained that their success is due to keeping their expenses low and to the relationships that they have built. To relax Shaaz enjoys time with his family. “I think with my busy schedule and timelines, I find joy in spending time with my family. As I have achieved much because of the support, the blessings, and prayers of my mum, I try as much as possible to be there for her. I’ve got a wonderful spouse who’s very supportive of me, and I’ve actually grown quite a bit because of her support.” In conclusion, the motto th Previous Next