No overnight success business, says Xolane Ndhlovu, DafriGroup chairman

Young people in business have been advised to imbibe the virtue of patience while working hard for a breakthrough in their entrepreneurship effort.

The advice came from Chairman and Chief Executive of DafriGroup Plc, Ziggy Xolane Ndhlovu, who avowed that entrepreneurs cannot afford to be “too impatient.”

According to him: Stories of “overnight success” make wannabe entrepreneurs think that their new venture will be a success immediately. What these young start-up creators don’t see are the years of hard work that go behind a big launch — which is usually successful only due to years of smart planning. Just because these steps aren’t publicized doesn’t mean they are not happening behind the scenes.”

Speaking further, Xolane Ndhlovu advised aspiring entrepreneurs to pay attention to emerging areas that offer good investments opportunities. “Across the African continent, the relentless spread of networks, sensors, artificial intelligence, and automation is driving a revolution to an unknown destination. Emerging technologies such as CCTV cameras with facial recognition systems, drones, blockchain, robots, and “smart cities” are proliferating,” he said.

With over 26 subsidiaries and still expanding across four African countries and the UK, DafriGroup, headquartered in South Africa, is one of the fastest expanding multinationals in Africa. Recently, its subsidiary, DafriBank, set a new record when it made its initial public offering as a digital share to the public. While acknowledging that Africa’s business environment is tough, the DafriGroup Chairman offered aspiring entrepreneurs some lessons from his own experience on how to set up a multinational group in Africa.

“In the business world today, ethics are an increasingly important element and point of discussion,” said Xolane Ndhlovu.

He also added: “Africa’s potential as a growth market for business remains both underestimated and misunderstood — as does the potential for business to play a transformative role in solving the continent’s biggest challenges.”