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MPUMZI SWANA

pumzi Swana, the chief operating officer However, he says that his proudest moment is “We found that they were very supportive and that
at SAMAC Engineering Solutions, was seeing the change in and the impact on the young different stakeholders came to the party. In fact, in
born in the Eastern Cape. The Swana employees who work at the company. “Some of the past two to three years our business has grown
Mfamily moved to KwaZulu-Natal when them have started straight out of school, and some quite significantly financially and in new markets
he was five years old and Mpumzi completed high of them have only worked one year. To look at how compared to the previous years where we even
school at George Campbell School of Technology. they’ve grown in terms of their own profession and had investors. From the hardships that we came
He commented, “I think that was quite an interesting as people and to know that as a company we are through we are much better off as a business and
space to be because that’s where my technical skills contributing to the development of people that are much better off as human beings.”
and acumen were built.” going do great things in their own respective lives is
a huge achievement.” BE THE BEST
Following matric, as creating finished products
from raw materials intrigued him, Mpumzi studied Ensuring motivation within his team is important to One of the people that has inspired Mpumzi in
chemical engineering. Much his career has been Mpumzi. “Our philosophy is that you must be able to his life has been his grandfather who never left,
centred on the development of new products. give someone a vision so that they are able to motivate Lusikisiki or the farm where the family came from.
themselves internally. For example, when we engage “In that space he always managed to thrive and to
Mpumzi has completed a number of post our engineers, we say to them that our company is be the leader at whatever he was doing. He was in
graduate degrees. His highest qualification is a probably one of the few companies where they have education, a principal, and one of the drivers for
manufacturing focused MBA that he obtained free rein to actually design and build products. This early childhood development. I want to build a
from the Gordon Institute of Business Science allows them to fully express themselves and develop business that will be the best at what is does and
(GIBS) through the Toyota Wessels Institute for their skills, which we find is a huge motivator.” I want to be the best at serving our customers in
Manufacturing (TWIMS).
The best advice that Mpumzi has received is: Don’t that space.”
His first job was at Toyota Manufacturing, where sweat the small things. “Focusing on the key things In addition, says Mpumzi, he is driven by the belief
he worked in the paint plant for three years. Of this that will get you the most results is essential. Don’t that each generation has an opportunity to fulfil its
experience he says, “I had very good supervisors and be anxious and want to control everything. That
managers who had quite sharp leadership acumen really has come through in the way that we do own mission. That for me is a core belief that I don’t
and I use a lot of the learnings that I gained from business and engage with our customers. We focus want to leave without actually fulfilling the mission
that we’ve been sent to do it and our company
them in my leadership at our business.” on what their biggest problem is and how we can
help to solve that problem. People see that you’re won’t die without fulfilling the mission that it’s sent
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT interested in the things that matter to them.” to do.”

SAMAC is focused on product development for While KZN is a dynamic province, in the last couple Mpumzi believes that KZN can be the platform
the HVAC or refrigeration industry. The company’s of years it has met with a number of challenges. to build a new industry. He believes that thermal
technology is geared towards storing thermal energy Covid really impacted on the business as some of storage technology has the ability to transform
during cheaper times of the day, which then can the work that they were doing was in commercial specific industries to make them greener and more
then be used more efficiently like during peak tariff buildings. When everyone was told to work at home, profitable. In addition, the company really wants
times or during loadshedding so that businesses projects had to be terminated or put on hold. to create a platform where young innovators and
save money, reduce product spoilage, become more entrepreneurs can develop their own products
green and more environmentally responsible. “That is During the July riots their office and workshop was using their technology.
why I wake up every morning,” says Mpumzi. looted of all stock and completely destroyed. Mpumzi
commented that as an entrepreneur there’s no going Mpumzi explains that he lives by the motto: ‘I
Mpumzi’s successes have been recognised on a back and as such started rebuilding from scratch. am the one that is needed for whatever it may
number of occasions. These include being one of A key component of this meant that the company be’. Whether it’s growing an industry or business,
the top five youth innovators in Africa in the energy engaged with their customers and stakeholders and growing a family, being a great South Africa or
space, and as the most innovative youth business by shared with them their situation and plan to rebuild being a great African, each of us can take agency
SAB Kickstart. to be able to fulfil their obligations. and bring change wherever we may be.”
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