By: Natasha Archary

Influential businessman, Sandile Zungu joins Gugulethu Mfuphi on Kaya Biz talking about the milestone 21-years that one of his businesses, Zungu Investments Co just reached.
The Founder and Chairman has navigated the complex business landscape and inspired business empowerment for inclusive growth.
As Chairman of the Black Business Council, Zungu has been a pivotal voice for Black Business in South Africa.
Apart from representing South Africa on the BRICS Business Council, Zungu holds a BSc Mechanical Engineering degree as well as a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from UCT.
Reflecting on his company turning 21-years, Sandile Zungu shares that when he started his company it was just a shell which he started with “literally nothing.”
“Zungu Investments was just a shell, there was no office, no physical address, no employees. There wasn’t a relationship with SARS, there was absolutely nothing, we had to start it from the ground up.
We started off with a cleaning business and over the years we have transformed ourselves, we exited from investments, we made a profit and we reinvested in other businesses.
We now have a decent balance sheet and sufficient forecast in those areas that we’d like to have a pivot around which our growth will be centered.
But most importantly for me is the level of significance that we have achieved over the years, like I said when we started in 2002 we employed zero people.
I was the first employee of Zungu Investments and then I employed my brother and a friend to assist me whilst I looked at other initiatives.
Now, our capital has an influence on thousands of livelihoods, either directly as employees in organizations where we have significant shareholders. For me that’s very important because I say black business has come of age when it can be relied upon as creators of employment and as drivers for economic development.”
Zungu says like with any business there have been highs and lows, with global incidents affecting his company’s growth numerous times through the years.
Listen to the conversation on Kaya Biz:
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