Page 89 - KZN Top Business Portfolio - EBOOK 2019

Chairperson at Traffic Signals and Accessories In addition, the company is involved in many other
(TSA) Holdings sponsorships and community support programmes.
G LEN PILLAY, a Durban-based entre- perseverance. “You need to make sure that you
Pillay says that TSA’s growth is based on
preneur, established Traffic Signals and
persevere and that you have a passion for your
Accessories (TSA) in 1995.
business. In the beginning I did everything,
With a background in engineering, his including marketing, but I needed to make a lot of
aim was to produce a reliable and cost-effective sacrifices. You can’t run a business on your own.
range of traffic signal lights. You have to have a support team that does the
works alongside you.”
He explains, “The first traffic light was built in my
garage at home and with demand we then grew to Most of Pillay’s time is now spent in research
a rented premise – and then we moved again to a and development. “We have to keep up with
new property…” development and upgrade our products as well as
obtain specifications for new products in accordance
TSA have now grown to become leaders in South with what the client needs.”
Africa as well as are the largest manufacturer and
supplier of LED traffic lights in Africa. The company He is also responsible for introducing the company
has intellectual property rights for its products in to various organisations, which are then followed up
South Africa. on by his sales and marketing team.
In addition, TSA has evolved from a manufacturing The company’s growth in Africa was a strategic
business to a traffic and transport management decision that has been the basis for their success.
solutions company with an emphasis on helping “In 2009, in the lead up to the World Cup, we
to create smart cities. TSA uses state-of-the-art and decided that we would concentrate on expanding
innovative technologies in its projects and solutions into Africa.”
in vehicle data collection, law enforcement, street Through working on this strategy, the business has
lighting, and variable message signage with the focus expanded to the point that there are represented in
being on environmental awareness.
most countries in Africa. TSA also has offices in India
“We are ranked as one of the top traffic management and a manufacturing plant in China. Something,
companies in southern Africa,” says Pillay. which Pillay says, they are very proud of achieving.
He explained that his business success has been Pillay is a fitness fanatic who says that even when
inspired by his family. “My wife is part of the he is travelling, he finds time to spend in a gym. As
business and she was responsible for us obtaining part of a team building initiative, Pillay and two of
ISO 9001 certification.” his staff, Greg Isaac and Pragasen Naidoo climbed
Mount Kilimanjaro in 2016. At the beginning of 2018,
Both his sons are also involved in the business
operations. He commented that his younger son they climbed to the Mount Everest base camp and
has bought his studies in business science to the they are now planning their next adventure.
management team in the form of analytical statistics. He added that he finds it very difficult to separate
“We now have statistics around staff and products the business from his personal life as he likes to be in
at our fingertips.” tune with everything that happens.
TSA currently employs 65 staff members, a social He concluded by saying, “I am the type of person
responsibility Pillay believes goes beyond the work who believes that if you start something you must
space. “I perceive that we are taking care of 65 finish it. Its like climbing a mountain. You start at the
families, so we are taking care of the community.” bottom and I cannot turn away.”

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