Luvuyo puts SA business on map

Sandiso Phaliso

ONE of Cape Town’s black emerging entrepreneurs, Luvuyo Rani, was named the 2016 Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Kigali, Rwanda.

He was among 12 other social entrepreneurs to be honoured by the award.

Rani described his achievement as a proud moment for Cape Town and South Africa.

Rani is managing director of Silulo Ulutho Technologies which has 33 branches in and around Cape Town’s townships. He sells second-hand computers, runs internet cafes, a computer school and installs software, and has recently opened more businesses in the Eastern Cape.

Thousands of entrepreneurs from around the world entered but, in the end, Rani was one of a handful who made the cut.

Winning the award means he will attend WEF conferences throughout the world and interact with other global business people.

To start his own business, the 42-year-old said he was inspired by his mother, who owned a tavern.

He used to assist her after school and that sparked his entrepreneurial spirit from an early age, he said.

“I am feeling so excited and happy about the award. This means as South Africans we have got what it takes to compete against the best in the world.”

He said winning the award meant any young person from anywhere in the country, regardless of their personal circumstances, can dream and realise anything was possible.

“It’s all about hard work, passion and big dreams,” said Rani.

“Big businesses and politicians from South Africa attended the event and they asked me how come the world knows about me and they don’t; I just laughed at them,” he said.

Rani has won various awards and received grants since he started his businesses.

“In the past I have been winning and getting grants and funding, but this is a different one. It has put Silulo on the map,” he said about the Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur award.

Rani said it was time for big corporates and the government to start recognising small businesses and listen to their ideas, no matter how small, and to support excellence.

The recent award came 12 years since he quit his career as a school teacher in Kwamfundo in Khayelitsha to start his computer business from the boot of his car, in the same area where he taught.

Since then he has also become the founder and chairperson of the Ekasi Business Network that connects business owners and entrepreneurs from the Cape Flats.

Rani recognised the need for information systems technology in Khayelitsha and saw how many people were unemployed because they did not have computer skills.

Through his experience he wants to give back to the community and will teach small-business people in townships to train and further inspire them not to give up, he said.

sandiso.phaliso@inl.co.za

@PhalisoSandiso