SILULO ULATHO TECHNOLOGIES

In 2004, Silulo Ulutho Technologies started its operation in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Since then, the company founder was awarded Junior Chamber International Outstanding Young Person in the World in 2014 and awarded WEF Schwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016.

Silulo Ulutho Technologies opened 15 centres in the Western Cape and has trained over 50 000 people. The company has expanded to 220 staff members with 43 branches across three provinces, including the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KZN. They provide one-stop business centres that offer internet access, computer training to business and mobile services which brings connectivity to people within townships or rural areas. This empowers, educates and creates franchise opportunities in these communities.

On the horizon is further expansion into every province in SA and the rest of Africa. Silulo Ulutho Technologies is striving towards bridging the digital divide for people in townships and rural communities.

Tell us a bit more about your business and what it offers?
We are 1-stop centre where we office computer training, internet access, business and mobile services.

What important role does your company play in Cape Town, and abroad?
We bring connectivity closer to our people (we operate mainly in the townships and rural areas).
We empower and educate these communities and we also create franchise opportunities.

When considering Cape Town, what factors made you choose to start here? Why Cape Town and what prompted the decision?
Khayelitsha (Cape Town) is where we started the company. I was based there and I saw the need to provide these services. The environment was conducive to the business.

What do you enjoy most about operating your business in Cape Town? What are the benefits of running a business/investing in Cape Town?
The eco-system (business) works well in cape town and there are a lot of networking opportunities.
There is a lot of growth potential in the townships.
Once you make it in Cape Town, you can make it anywhere.

What are the highlights/success stories you can share since starting your business in Cape Town?
2016 Awarded WEF Schwab Social Entrepreneur of the year
2014 Junior Chamber International outstanding young peron in the world
Training over 50 000 people
Opening 15 centres in the Western Cape
Bridging the digital divide for the people in the townships

What challenges, if any, have you experienced in setting up your business?
Crime is the biggest challenge for businesses in the township and it has gotten worse.
We had an unfortunate incident where our Head Office caught on fire.

Have you had any interactions, positive or negative, with the City of Cape Town in setting up or running your business?
I haven’t had much interaction with CoCT yet.

How has doing business in Cape Town, or with City of Cape Town, been different to anywhere else?
We have not done any business with the government

What’s next? What is the future of your business?
Expand in every SA province and then the rest of Africa

If your best friend was on the fence about opening a business/investing in Cape Town, what would you tell them?
It would be hard for me to recommend opening a business in township as crime is a huge challenge. However, anywhere else in cape town, then it is a good time to open a business.