Page 39 - KZN Leaders Portfolio E-BOOK 2107

Consequently, Calvin and Family Group has diversified
Founder of Calvin and Family Group (CFG)
C ALVIN MATHIBELI is the founder of Calvin and into a number of industries, including, security services,
engineering consulting, project management, branding,
Family Group (CFG) and has been in business
printing and marketing — Black Pride Media, and SA
Precast. The latest addition is Unique Lifestyle Café – an
for 12 years.
Mathibeli’s working career started while he upmarket restaurant located in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal.
was still a student at the Durban Institute of Technology, Awards
then Durban University of Technology.
This business success has resulted in Mathibeli and
In order to fund his studies and provide an income for the Calvin and Family Group receiving many accolades.
his accommodation and living costs, Mathibeli spent Recent awards include:
his days as a student and the evenings as a businessman
selling cell phone accessories at The Wheel in Mahatma The Oliver Top Empowerment Awards 2017:
Gandhi Road, Durban, after identifying a market demand Top Empowered Entrepreneur of 2017 Award and
in the evenings. Fastest Growing Black Owned Company
He said, “I had to walk from Durban south beach to 2017 Vision 2030 SMME Awards
the Tech every day and I saw an opportunity to service National Entrepreneur Champion Awards
the needs of tourists in the area who often required cell
phone repairs or accessories such as charges, batteries, Impumelelo Top Empowered Companies,
covers, etc. after the main shops had closed.” Certificate of Excellence
Mathibeli decided to gamble with the R500 savings Forbes 2017 list of the 30 Most promising Young
that he had to buy stock and persuaded a store-owner African Entrepreneurs
to give him a small space to set up shop. He said, “Life Mathibeli’s success has also seen him take on other
is about choice. I had to choose, whether to give up my entrepreneurs and he has assisted them to establish and
studies or soldier on.” grow their businesses. He says, “I think mentoring is my

Juggling being a student and a running a business was passion, I love to empower people and I am proud to say
not without difficulty. “I had to divide myself, which was that although I am young, only 30, I have made some
a real a challenge. I did very well in my studies and coped multi-millionaires.”
because I realised I needed to ask questions in class. I “I look for people who have vision. Many young
had to make sure that I clearly understood what we were people have brilliant ideas but are hampered by red
learning so that I could work in the evenings. I always say tape, have no funding and have no surety. I provide
success is a choice, it is not about luck, it is about the funding in return for shares in their businesses, which
effort, dedication and the hard work that you put in.”
allows them to establish going concerns over which
The impetus for Mathibeli’s business career took place they have direct control.
after one of his cell phone repair customers, impressed
by his initiative, offered to mentor him in township However, he says, mentorship is necessary if you
property development. want people to succeed. Some people have a passion
for business but do not have management skills or self-
“With the little money I had saved I started to buy and discipline. They want to buy a Ferrari but do not understand
sell land in the township areas. After I acquired enough the hardships that have preceded owning one.”
capital, I started to buy and then develop the land prior
to selling,” said Mathibeli. A further passion is socio and economic
empowerment. “My vision is that in five years we will
During this time Mathibeli invested all his profits back create 5000 jobs,” says Mathibeli. He commented that
into his business and was operating out of the boot of this cannot be achieved by only offering employment
his car as well as from spaza shops. He opened his first on construction sites as this was limited but that it
office in 2008 and his business has continued to grow could be achieved through growing businesses in
and he has never looked back. Currently, 70% of his township areas.
clientele consist of middle income private developers
and 30% government contracts. The company is now In addition, Mathibeli says, “Radical economic
registered with the Construction Industry Development transformation will not be achieved through obtaining
Board (CIBD) and has level seven registrations for civil tenders but through creating industrialists so that we
engineering and general building, complying with all can have sustainable employment opportunities. It is
construction regulations. important that we don’t wait for opportunities. You must
However, Mathibeli said that he noticed that when create your own opportunities that create employment.”
looking at successful people one of the things that Mathibeli concluded, “I am creating a legacy. I felt the
inspired him was that they all had multiple streams of pains of this world at an early age. I can’t do anything
income in common. about the past but I can shape my future.”

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