STAFF WRITER
WORLD Economic Forum Social Entrepreneur for 2016, Cape Town’s Luvuyo Rani, is the guest speaker at this month’s Cape Times Breakfast in Khayelitsha on Wednesday (September 21).
Driven by his passion to provide IT skills training to township youth, Rani gave up a promising teaching career in 2004 to start Silulo Ulutho Technologies from the boot of his car. Today the business has 40 operational branches with 18 in and around the townships in Cape Town and another 22 in the Eastern Cape.
His business savvy has won him several top awards including the Cape Times Business Personality of the Year Editor’s Awards for entrepreneurial excellence, the SAB Kickstart Competition in 2008 and he was the runner-up of the Africa Small Medium and Micro Enterprises Awards in 2009. Among his many accolades and achievements, Rani represented South Africa at the USA Young Entrepreneurship Program in 2010 and won an award at the Junior Chamber International (JCI) in Germany.
Earlier this year he and ten others were hand-picked from thousands of entries to receive the 2016 Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year award. The Foundation is the sister organisation of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
As one of the winners Rani will get the opportunity to attend WEF conferences around the world, allowing him to interact with global business people.
Rani’s will speak on the topic “Doing business in the townships – challenges and opportunities”. Rani said he had selected this topic since doing business in the township is where the future is, where the opportunities are and where the energy is.
“We don’t have many good role models and good stories, especially on entrepreneurship. So it’s important for young people and entrepreneurs running their businesses to see that there is hope if you love what you do and are passionate about what you do and focus on what you do - that you can grow and succeed. That is the message we need to spread to entrepreneurs”, said Rani.
Rani is also the founder and chairperson of the Ekasi Business Network which connects entrepreneurs from Khayelitsha and Constantia.
According to Michael Mtiwetafa , Key Account Relationship Manager at Nedbank, who is co-hosting the event, the breakfast meeting provides a good opportunity for opportunities and partnerships to be explored. “Nedbank is proud to be associated with the Cape Times Breakfast as it aligns to our vision and purpose, which is to use our financial expertise to do good for individuals, families, business and society as a whole. We have a very strong focus on uplifting our clients and potential clients in the townships, through our CSI initiatives as well as through collaborative partnerships, such as our partnership with Cape Times.”
At the breakfast guests will also have an opportunity to be introduced to the activities of Ezase-Kasi Business Fridays, an initiative launched recently by entrepreneur Siyanda Mtulu, which is striving to boost economic growth in the townships. One of the initiatives that they promote is a series of pop-up stalls selling a variety of items made in the townships.
“We are doing this open market to provide market access to the previously disadvantaged township entrepreneurs,” said Mtulu. We urge our communities to support them and buy their products and services and take part in the EZASE – KASI Business Fridays National Campaign. Every Friday, South Africans will be asked to show their support by by wearing one item that has been produced by a local/township fashion designer and have a meal at a township restaurants. “This will definitely helpt to boost the township economy, stimulate job creation and contribute towards the National Development Plan Vision 2030”, said Mtulu.
The cost of the breakfast is R150 per person. To book, email [email protected] or call 021 488 4465. Transport to the breakfast will be available courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Culemborg. Please indicate whether you would like to make use of this service when booking as seats are limited.