Hope spurs new dreams

This week’s hero wants to pass on to other disadvantaged young people the help he got as a start-up entrepreneur, writes Liz Clarke

NEGOTIATING the steep, sandy path to 35-year-old Gift Tsepo Ndlovu’s oneroomed home in Dassenhoek would be arduous even with a bit of mountaineering experience.

But gallantly he took my hand.

“Don’t worry,” he said with a grin. “Soon I will have proper steps.”

It’s a message of optimism that permeates everything this young family man has set out to do in his life. It’s an optimism that is still on the up and up.

“You see this place,” he said, pointing to the sprawling township in the distance, where shack-like dwellings and newer brick homes make up a diverse tapestry.

“My dream is to make opportunities happen for them.”

And the way he plans to do that is to put his newly acquired knowledge of business management and IT to good use.

“What’s the use of being lucky enough to learn all these things and not share them? That’s how we can make things better. If you don’t have hope, you don’t have any reason to dream.”

Ndlovu spent his childhood in one of Gauteng’s poorest areas, Orange Farm. After being retrenched from his job in 2010 and battling to support his wife and three children, the family’s future appeared bleak. But the past two years have been a whirlwind of growth and success for this determined optimist.

A friend encouraged Ndlovu to attend the business course that Kloof Harvest Church Giba was running, called the “Paradigm Shift”, and that’s when things changed for him.

During the 18-week course, he met advertising agency owner Clive McMurray, who became his mentor and has been by Ndlovu’s side ever since.

The aim of the interactive course is to equip smaller scale entrepreneurs with practical business tools and teach them biblical principles.

Out of the 900 candidates who attended the course countrywide, Ndlovu was nominated as the “Best Entrepreneur of 2014” as a result of the establishment of his business in repairing and servicing computers.

This inspired him to take a second business course at the Elangeni College in Pinetown, which lasted a year and strengthened his entrepreneurial skills.

Ndlovu’s story was featured in publications throughout KwaZulu-Natal and after hearing about his dedication and vision, local businessmen came forward to assist.

He was donated a container which was transported to his home in the Dassenhoek area, Mariannhill, and now he is able to store his equipment and do repairs in a secure environment.

Compass Medical Waste Services heard about Ndlovu’s journey from Grace Church and a discussion was held with their IT, finance and corporate social investment team on how best to assist him, in order to ensure that his business is profitable and services the community.

This month Ndlovu received 80 second-hand electronic items from Compass, which included 22 laptops, monitors, docking stations, keyboards, cables, a printer and projector.

“I am over the moon with this donation as I can either upgrade the equipment or use much-needed parts to repair others,’’ he explained.

“I have received such wonderful support from individuals and businesses and this will help me to realise the vision for my business much sooner than I dared to hope.’’

Ndlovu’s strategy is to continue repairing and servicing computers and then to open an internet cafe and business service facility – faxing, copying, typing, scanning – for his community.

“I would like to provide basic computer training skills to anyone and everyone – from young children, to aspiring business men and women, to the elderly,’’ Ndlovu said.

“I am so excited about the donated projector as I can do screenings of movies and play motivational DVDs to the youth in my area.

“During my first meeting with Ian du Randt, owner of Compass, he mentioned the importance of registering my business and I made sure that I had done this before we met again. It is advice like this that is going to make me successful,’’ Ndlovu said.

For more information on Gift Computer Sales and Repairs, contact Gift Ndlovu on on 083 718 0463 or e-mail tsepogift@gmail.com.