Vusi is a software engineer (two decades), former exec and entrepreneur turned crazy cyclist. He is a husband of 11 years and a dad to six.
He was born in Mpumalanga, in a small village called Maganagobushwa. He showed early signs of industriousness in primary school where he sold sweets and sandwiches for pocket money. In high school, he sold airtime with a (then) cutting-edge SMS technology – during the time of scratch cards. In high school, he acquired an A+ certificate, allowing him to fix computers. Later in high school, he learned to develop software.
Vusi ventured into business straight after high school, helping schools build timetables. He consulted in the tracking industry where he played a role in importing and implementing tracking technology, which still monitors more than 10,000 government vehicles today. This was followed by various consulting roles throughout South Africa, including KZN, The Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
In 2018, in his capacity as a director at Tirhani Group Holdings, Vusi led the disposal of R100m worth of properties on behalf of the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) using the online auction method. Among the portfolio was the official residence of the Gauteng premier, which sold at 36% higher than the market value.
Between 2018 – 2020, in his capacity as the executive director of the Centre for Enterprise-neurship (CfE), Vusi led the promotion and revitalisation of the South African auction industry, in partnership with the Services SETA. He delivered the first industry-wide auction conference, represented by professional bodies and leaders in every sub-sector of auctioneering. He also delivered the first industry-wide research paper (co-developed with Plus94™), and over-hauled SSETA’s auction qualifications to align with SAQA standards.
In 2021, Vusi was appointed executive director of Nyukani Education Centre, a private school in Limpopo during Covid. In three months, he led the implementation of e-learning across the board (from Grades R – 12), eliminating all COVID disruptions, particularly during the 3rd wave. The school seamlessly switched to remote learning during the lockdown period of June 2021 and resumed with blended learning techniques thereafter.
As a combination of e-learning introduction, pedagogic changes, and management restructuring, the school’s performance improved by an average of 10% across all grades, with some classes achieving a 20% increase in maths and science. The Matric class of 2021 doubled their distinctions and produced the best Matric results since inception – a 96% pass rate (in a province of 66%). In the first term of 2022, the school produced the best matriculant in Limpopo and the best results in the circuit, leading to an award by TT100 and Da Vinci Business School.
Through TT100 and DaVinci business school, Vusi contributed to a program with Isaac Bari, the world’s youngest professor, to develop a program to make maths and science more accessible to children in South Africa.
In 2022, Vusi took a sabbatical, leaving all his executive roles and embarking on a pilgrimage, cycling 3257km from Musina to Cape Town, unassisted, for 10,000 school shoes.
Vusi consults in various capacities as project manager and mediator. He is pursuing a master’s in Applied Ethics at Wits University and building skybookings.com, an events ticketing platform. Above all, his journey through life is lightened by his wife Victoria and brightened by their six children.
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