A Young Leader Making Waves in Maritime

From Durban to the Maritime Industry

Minenhle “Minnie” Zulu (26), from Montclair in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, is quickly establishing herself as a promising professional in an industry traditionally dominated by men.

Known for her energy and determination, Minnie is becoming a notable figure in maritime circles.

“If you want to work in an environment with no office politics and gossip, the maritime industry is the place to be,” she said.

Passion for the Ocean Drives Her Career

Zulu attributes her career choice to her deep passion for the ocean and a strong commitment to personal and professional growth.

“I have a passion and love for the ocean, with a strong commitment to personal growth, and that is why I chose this career,” she explained.

Her enthusiasm and forward-thinking mindset continue to set her apart in the industry.

Training and Development at Southern Seas Institute

Building Skills for a Maritime Career

Zulu began her journey at the Southern Seas Institute, an organisation focused on empowering women to enter maritime professions.

Through the institute, she received comprehensive training in:

• Navigation
• Safety procedures
• Vessel operations
• Maritime logistics

She credits her success to discipline, resilience, and a strong work ethic.

“I embraced every opportunity to learn, demonstrating resilience, discipline and a strong work ethic throughout my training,” she said.

Breaking Barriers for Women in Maritime

Promoting Gender Equality in the Industry

Zulu believes her journey represents a broader shift toward inclusivity in the maritime sector.

“I represent a new generation of women breaking barriers and redefining roles within the maritime industry,” she said.

Her achievements highlight the growing movement toward gender equality in a field where women have historically been underrepresented.

Current Role and Industry Impact

Training the Next Generation

Currently, Minnie serves as a Training Manager at the Southern Seas Institute, based in South Beach, Durban.

The institute operates vessels from Point Waterfront in Durban and Port Elizabeth, providing trainees with valuable real-world maritime experience.

Call to Action: Youth Encouraged to Explore Maritime Careers

Opportunities for Growth and Global Exposure

Zulu is urging young people to consider careers in the maritime industry, noting its potential for growth and international exposure.

“Since the year is still young, I encourage young people to explore opportunities in this industry. There is space for growth, learning and building a meaningful career,” she said.

Conclusion

As Minenhle “Minnie” Zulu continues to rise in the maritime industry, her story serves as an inspiration for young South Africans looking to enter a sector filled with opportunity, innovation, and global impact.

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Mokhemisa is founder and CEO of Mokhemisa MC Attorneys and Charity M Travels who is a passionate entrepreneur and leader.

Mokhemisa was born in Kroonstad in the Free State and later moved to Orkney in the North West, where she completed her high school education at Vaal Reefs Technical High School.

She then returned to Kroonstad and studied at Kroonstad Technical College, where she completed her N6 in Marketing Management.

In the year 2000, she moved to Pretoria and attended the Tshwane University of Technology (Soshanguve Campus), where she obtained her Diploma in Information Technology.

After graduating in 2002, she relocated to Johannesburg, where she worked for several companies while building her professional career. In 2012, she enrolled to study for her LLB degree part-time. Through determination and perseverance, she completed her law degree and was admitted as an Attorney in 2021.

“As you can see from my career path, I spent many years trying to find myself. However, from a very young age, I always had a deep desire to travel. My late father played a big role in shaping that curiosity. Every Sunday he would wake me up early to go and buy a newspaper for him, and when I returned, he would ask me to read it out loud to him.

“Through those newspapers, I discovered that there was a whole world beyond what I was exposed to at the time. That is when my curiosity about the world began. I became fascinated by different places, cultures, and opportunities beyond my surroundings,” she said.

Mokhemisa said that as she grew older, she started travelling on her own and with friends.

“I was always the one organising the trips, planning everything and becoming the “lead passenger.” At the time, I was simply doing it out of passion, not realizing that I was slowly building the foundation for something bigger,” she said.

Mokhemisa said that in 2023, she met Christina and Lawrence Mosia, the founders of AirRose, a network marketing business.

“They asked me to assist them in organizing a trip to Dubai for 46 distributors. Little did I know that this opportunity would become the beginning of CharityM Travels. I successfully organized the entire trip for the group from flights, accommodation, visas, and activities. The trip was a huge success. After that, I went on to organize more international trips for them, including Bali and Thailand. Alongside those group trips, I also began organizing travel for individuals. However, AirRose continued to trust me with larger groups, which helped me gain valuable experience and confidence.

“Around 2024, I had a moment where I thought to myself, “Why not start my own travel agency?” I sat down with my son, who was 12 years old at the time, and explained to him the idea I had in mind. To my surprise and pride, he came up with the name CharityM Travels.From that moment, CharityM Travels was born, and we officially began trading as a travel agency, built from passion, courage, and a dream that started many years ago,” said the proud mother of three.

Mokhemisa said it she had to use R500 to register the company and after everything fell into the place.

“Luckily, with my idea, I didn’t need much money to start. At the time, I had just resigned from a company and had gone three months without any income. Despite not having much, I used the little I had, less than R500 to register my business. I then downloaded an app to design posters and started advertising my services on social media. I also asked family and friends to help spread the word.

“My very first trip was to Bali (Indonesia) and can you imagine… only four people booked the trip. Four people meant there was barely enough profit for me to travel with them, and I always travel with my clients. I had to use the little profit I made from other bookings just to secure the flights. I was travelling with my sister friend Khauhelo Ramatlo, and I remember telling her about all my struggles. She simply said, “Don’t worry. When I get paid, we will use my salary for everything we need for the trip,” she said.

Mokhemisa further said: “So there we were in Bali on the 16th May 2025, and on the 20th of May when she got paid, we finally managed to cover all the remaining costs of the trip. Looking back now, it feels unbelievable, but that’s how determined we were.

“From that point, the rest became history. The next trip was again to Bali, but this time with more than 20 people. That was the turning point. I finally made enough profit, and the company was able to cover my travel expenses.”

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This comes after SAPS allegedly raided multiple business premises of Calvin and Family Group were raided for the third time on Tuesday midday.

“Over the past seven years we have been subjected to repeated and unlawful attempts by certain members of the South African Police Service to target both Chairman and The Company.

The latest action, involving a search and seizure operation based on false and misleading allegations is simply another continuation of this pattern of harassment.

“This development does not come as a surprise to us. It forms part of a broader effort to conceal and justify rogue operations that have been directed against us for more than 7 years. While the current events may appear new to the public, they are in fact part of a long history of intimidation, harassment and abuse of power that we have consistently endured behind the scenes,” he said.

Mathibeli said that after multiple failed attempts to damage their reputation and operations through baseless investigations and unlawful actions, the authorities have now resorted to opening a case.

“We view this move as yet another desperate attempt to legitimize actions that have no lawful or factual basis. We must also place on record that what we are witnessing is not merely misconduct by individual officers but a disturbing pattern of abuse of state power that appears to benefit certain private interests within the security industry. There is a network of individuals who seek to manipulate law enforcement structures to eliminate business competition.

“Approximately 4 years ago, a security company owner from Gauteng entered my premises and demanded that I share my business with him. I refused. Since that moment, a campaign of intimidation and interference has followed. This same individual later lost a security contract to our company and has repeatedly boasted about his alleged influence and control over certain members of the police,” he said.

Mathibeli who is married to former Gagasi and Ukhozi FM radio producer and actress Simangele Mathibeli said this individual is a former police officer whom during his time in the SAPS in Gauteng, was allegedly involved in criminal activities including the use of police vehicles in heists.

“Even after leaving the service, his conduct has continued to reflect the same pattern of intimidation and unlawful influence. In the most recent incident in December 2025, he approached one of our client and attempted to convince them to pressure me into sharing our contract with him, In return he promised that all the “problems with the police” that we have been experiencing would immediately disappear.

“This statement alone demonstrates the level of manipulation and collusion that exists between certain private individuals and elements within law enforcement.

This same individual has reportedly been sharing information about planned police raids on our offices with his associates, raising serious concerns about how sensitive operational information is being handled and who truly controls certain policing actions,” he said.

Mathubeli said it is deeply concerning that the SAPS appears to be captured and manipulated by individuals seeking to settle business rivalries through state machinery.

“Law enforcement institutions should protect citizens and businesses, not serve as tools for private vendettas and anti-competitive conduct. Despite these ongoing attempts to intimidate and silence us, we remain confident that the truth will ultimately prevail. We will continue to cooperate with lawful processes while also exposing the abuse of power and corruption that has been directed against us.

The truth shall come out,” he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, MDNtv News reported that law enforcement agencies were currently raiding multiple properties linked to Mathibeli in four South African provinces in connection with a tender fraud case registered in Johannesburg.

Search warrants were secured earlier this week, and investigators are seizing documents and other materials believed to be relevant to the probe into alleged irregularities in government contracts.

The scope of the raids underscores growing scrutiny of Mathibeli’s business dealings, particularly in logistics, security and construction sectors.

Mathibeli has been no stranger to public controversy, having previously taken an adversarial stance against the South African Police Service (SAPS).

He has publicly accused Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the KwaZulu‑Natal provincial police commissioner, of harassment and abuse of power, alleging that senior police officers targeted his family, employees and business premises in a campaign of intimidation claims that SAPS has dismissed as baseless.

The feud between Mathibeli and Mkhwanazi has spilled into the courts, with the police commissioner securing a High Court interdict to stop Mathibeli from repeating defamatory allegations against him.

Mkhwanazi has denied the accusations and is pursuing legal action, saying the claims have caused reputational harm.

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Ngubane is the proud owner of Maya Mbomvu Dining Delight, a small enterprise that produces and sells honey directly to customers in the township.

His passion for honey began during his childhood in rural areas where hunting for bee nests was a common activity among young boys.

“It started when I was still very young because I always loved honey,” Ngubane said.

“Around 2000 and 2001 I used to pass through areas such as Mshwathi and Mpophomeni in the Midlands of KwaZulu Natal. I would see young boys standing by the roadside selling honey cakes. I became curious and asked them where they got the honey from. They told me they would go out hunting for bee nests, especially during winter, and store the honey to sell the following morning.”

Inspired by what he saw, Ngubane began buying honey cakes from the boys and taking them home to process and store safely before selling the honey in his community.

“It started when I was young because I always loved honey.”

“The idea started there. I began buying the honey cakes and taking them home. I would process the honey and sell it around the township. I also deliver directly to people’s homes whenever they call and request it. Instead of going to the mall, customers can order honey directly from the provider,” he explained.

Ngubane says preparing the honey requires patience and a careful process to ensure quality.

“When I prepare the honey, I first heat the honey cakes in a pot until they melt and boil. After that I filter the honey three times to remove impurities. Once it cools down, I remove the remaining honey cake and continue with the filtering process before pouring the honey into 500 gram containers,” he said.

He currently sells each 500 gram container for R100.

Ngubane says he is funding the business himself while working another job and hopes to grow the enterprise in the future.

“For now I am running the business from the back of my house and I have not yet employed anyone. I usually order about 20 litres of honey at a time,” he said.

Despite its small scale, Ngubane believes the business has the potential to expand as more people begin to support locally produced honey.

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Dungeon LLC was established in 2021 in United States of America (USA) and South Africa.

The Ennerdale born businessman who is known as Ndabezitha, said that his dream is to outsource South Africans to work in the USA.

“Growing up in Soweto taught me to persevere and not give up on my goals, no matter what the circumstances might look like. I am that person who is very proud of my roots. thought me. Coming to the USA was not easy as I had to adjust to the new faces, new environment and and the weather. I had to start afresh and build contact luckily for me I have experience working of working for the SABC back at home in the production side so it was easy for me to establish new network,” he said.

Vusumuzi said that his Uncle Samuel Mbatha who is the Head of Mamelodi Sundowns development always reminded him that the duty is to lift those who come behind them to lift them up while and stand together.

“When I arrived in the US, I started the business of buying and selling cars on the streets.That business helped me start Dungeon LLC which I established back at home and US. Dungeon LLC then gave birth to Dungeon Trucking. The contract gave me a platform which was the beginning of everything,” he said.

Dungeon LLC is a logistic company bridging the gap in economic access leadership expansion and the environmental benefits of renewable energy.

“With Dungeon Trucking I hired 10 American people in order to give back to the country and eventually my aim is to begin sourcing South Africans too. That contract gave me a lot of experience and knowledge with the US trucking industry. The current political environment has forced me to speed up my goals of extending my business aspirations into South Africa sooner than later.

“Some of the things I would like to see happen between the South African government and South Africans in American is that the SA government establishes community liaisons through organizations like Imbizo Host Committee that can engage the diaspora community at large on various levels,” he said.

He said that another important piece is backing South Africans that are seeking to establish organizations or projects that are beyond just entertainment but building power as a community.

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Graceful and composed, Dr Omogiafo accepted the honour with a deep sense of gratitude and pride. She stood as a symbol of what African women can achieve when determination, discipline and purpose come together.

“Who said a mother can’t do it?”

After receiving her award, she addressed a question many women in leadership face: How do you manage everything?

Her response was honest and empowering.

“I am always a mother. I am always a wife. I am always a Group CEO. And I am always Owen. The key is to integrate everything. Work–life balance is hard to achieve. Work–life integration is what works.”

Leading Nigeria’s Powerhouse

Dr Omogiafo oversees Transcorp Group, one of Nigeria’s most influential conglomerates. The company provides a significant share of Nigeria’s power supply, owns the country’s largest hospitality portfolio, drives new investments in renewable energy and is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Behind all of this is a mission she champions with conviction: to improve lives and transform Africa.

A Recognition She Values Deeply

Winning at AABLA was especially meaningful because of the calibre of the judges and the scope of the event as Africa’s finest businesswomen.

“They looked across the continent at many extraordinary women leading major corporations and they chose me. I am honoured and very proud.”

The Glass Ball Philosophy

Dr Omogiafo shared the life principle that guides her through demanding responsibilities. She calls it the Glass Ball Theory.

“We are all juggling. Some balls are glass, some are plastic and some are rubber.”

The Power of a Support System

Dr Omogiafo’s leadership journey is anchored in the people around her. She expressed heartfelt appreciation for her husband, her children Sosa, Precious and Abigail, her parents, in-laws, trusted executive team and close friends.

A Message to Young Women

“You can do it. You can lead. You can build. Your circumstances do not define your future.”

AABLA 2025: A Moment for the Continent

Dr Owen Omogiafo’s recognition as Businesswoman of the Year is a celebration of African leadership, an affirmation of women in executive spaces and a reminder that excellence grows where purpose is present.

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The atmosphere was electric at the 13th Annual All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) as Lincoln Mali, CEO of Lesaka Technologies, was honoured with the prestigious Business Leader of the Year 2025 award. The accolade recognises exceptional leadership, innovation, and transformative impact on the African business landscape.

Still absorbing the moment, Mali expressed deep gratitude:

“I’m humbled… I’m still numb. This award is a tribute to our team.”

From Loss-Making to Industry-Leading

Lesaka Technologies — previously struggling and loss-making — has, under Mali’s leadership, become a profitable, community-driven fintech powerhouse.

Lesaka serves some of the most overlooked sectors in South Africa:

• Township and village merchants

• Spaza shops and taverns

• Grant beneficiaries

• Underserved consumers excluded by traditional banking

“We deal with people who are often ignored by mainstream institutions,” Mali said. “We wanted to show them dignity — to show they are valued customers. They repaid us with loyalty.”

A Leadership Approach Rooted in Respect

Mali’s philosophy is people-centric:

 “Respect and dignity matter. My colleagues must trust me, and I must trust them. I always communicate the WHY. Our why is the unseen and underserved customer.”

This clarity of purpose has played a vital role in Lesaka’s turnaround.

AABLA Recognition as a Platform for Inspiration

Beyond personal achievement, Mali sees the award as an opportunity to inspire young Africans.

 “We’ve never fully told the Lesaka story,” he said. “Tonight I shared it, and I hope it inspires the next generation of leaders.”

His message carries weight, given his own journey:

“At 18, I had been expelled from school. I was in and out of jail. I saw no future.”

Today, he leads a fintech listed on both the Nasdaq and the JSE.

 “Your past cannot determine your future,” he told the youth. “It’s the fire inside you that matters. I believe in you.”

Continuous Learning as a Superpower

Asked about the role of education, Mali stressed the importance of lifelong learning:

“Education matters — not for certificates, but for knowledge. The world is changing fast. To make an impact, you must keep learning.”

AABLA 2025 Marks a Milestone for Lesaka

As applause filled the room, it was clear that Mali’s leadership — grounded in humility, service, and dignity — is shaping not only Lesaka’s success but inspiring leadership across the continent.

For Lesaka Technologies and the communities it serves, this award marks a powerful milestone and the beginning of an even greater chapter.

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As part of the county’s export market diversification initiatives, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) has set up a national pavillion at the fair, in which 30 South African agro-processing companies will showcase their products.

As they prepare to depart for Germany, businesspeople say they are looking forward to participating in the trade show. They have committed to taking full advantage of the opportunity to showcase their products with the aim of grabbing the attention of international importers. They relish the prospects of returning home with bags full of trade leads that will develop into concrete deals.

> “We are looking forward to the trade show in Germany. We are excited by the opportunity to interact with potential new customers, linking with current customers and networking amongst other companies from around the world. We are hoping to expose various companies to our vitality-centred products,” says the Sales Executive of Macavation, Mr Peter Symons.

Macavation innovates with macadamias and produces a range of high quality products including extra virgin macadamia oil, crude cosmetic macadamia oil, macadamia protein powder, macadamia protein crispies, and various styles of macadamia kernel. The KwaZulu-Natal company, that employs 34 full-time employees, sells its products to local food manufacturers, as well as exporting them mainly to Europe and Canada.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Limpopo-based Setšong Tea Crafters, Ms Retang Phaahla, says she is excited about the opportunity to showcase proudly Limpopo and Proudly South African products in Germany.

> “We have been eyeing Germany as a potential market for quite some time. There is a big tea market in Europe, and Germany is one of the countries that already import Rooibos tea from South Africa. For us to be able to tap into that market and showcase the products that we have developed is really exciting. We hope that this will help us create more jobs and build the revenue of the business,” says Phaahla.

Setšong Tea Crafters are based at the Ga-Matlala Ramoshebo village near Marble Hall, where they provide permanent employment to 30 people, and seasonal employment to 15 people. They produce tea from indigenous plants that have been consumed as herbal tea by the people of Limpopo for hundreds of years.

The Co-Founder and Managing Director of Niice Foods, Taryn Muller, says her main objective for travelling to Germany is to secure new retail, import, and distribution partners in key European Union countries and the United Arab Emirates.

> “This will be the second consecutive Anuga fair that we will be participating in. It is an opportunity for us to expand our global market presence and establish long-term, strategic territory. It also provides a platform for us to elevate brand recognition and showcase our new value-added macadamia offerings. Our premium macadamia cooking oil is our flagship product. It is positioned perfectly as a more affordable, functional, and versatile cooking oil with an extremely favourable health profile,“ says Muller.

Niice Foods, which is based in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, where it employs 12 people, manufactures value-added macadamia nut, ready-to-eat products, macadamia cooking oil, macadamia nut spreads and macadamia seasoning.

The General Manager of the South African Fruit and Vegetable Canners Export Council (SAFVCEC), Ms Jill Atwood-Palm, says as one of the largest trade show globally, Anuga provides her with a perfect opportunity to showcase the South African canned fruit and vegetable industry to the world.

“Anuga also serves as a platform for gathering market information, benchmarking competitor activity, assessing supply-demand conditions and identifying emerging consumer trends,” adds Atwood-Palm.

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MDNNews has learned that Macsteel has begun retrenching portions of its workforce, as the company navigates mounting challenges in the global steel market.

An employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the retrenchment process is already under way internally.

Macsteel had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

The move comes against the backdrop of intensifying global economic pressures, including the United States’ recent decision to double tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from 25% to 50%. Analysts warn that these tariffs are likely to deepen strain on international steel markets, undermining local producers and threatening job security in South Africa’s manufacturing sector.

The impact is not confined to steel alone. The motor industry has also felt the pressure, with Nissan’s Rosslyn plant recently implementing retrenchments affecting a significant number of employees.

Labour analysts caution that such international policy shifts could trigger wider job losses across industries heavily dependent on steel production and supply chains.

MDNNews will continue to track developments in both sectors and report on the evolving impact on workers and the broader economy.

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The loan, finalized in June, forms part of a national strategy to upgrade essential infrastructure, restore the effectiveness of state institutions, and promote growth in key economic sectors. Officials confirmed the funds will go toward general budget support, with a focus on cost-effective borrowing and extended repayment timelines. This approach is designed to keep borrowing costs manageable while funding much-needed projects.

The key areas of focus for this loan include stabilizing the power supply, streamlining freight logistics, and pushing forward the transition to cleaner energy sources. These sectors are seen as essential to improving the business climate, boosting investor confidence, and building a more inclusive economy.

The funding will also support long-term reforms in public infrastructure services, targeting long-standing backlogs in energy and transport that have slowed productivity, disrupted trade, and put pressure on vulnerable communities.

In addition to this latest loan, South Africa is working on securing further concessional funding from international development institutions. Combined, these efforts could generate up to $3 billion in support for infrastructure and other medium-term budgetary needs.

One of the more innovative components of the plan includes a new credit guarantee facility, which will be launched in partnership with global financial institutions. This initiative is expected to attract private capital by reducing risks in infrastructure projects—beginning with a program to expand the country’s transmission grid. This expansion, estimated to cost around $25 billion, involves building 14,500 kilometers of new transmission lines and increasing transformer capacity to support the integration of renewable energy sources and reduce persistent power shortages.

South Africa has already received over $1.2 billion in concessional funding over the past five years, helping reduce reliance on more expensive commercial loans. The country’s development strategy continues to benefit from this type of affordable financing, which supports long-term infrastructure goals while keeping debt service costs under control.

Other international partners have also stepped up. One development bank has already approved an additional $1 billion to fund national water projects and has provided R5 billion in direct support to the country’s logistics company, reflecting strong alignment with South Africa’s infrastructure goals.

Together, these funding efforts mark a shift toward infrastructure-led growth backed by structural reforms and increasing collaboration with the private sector. With steady progress in energy, logistics, and water systems, South Africa is setting the stage for a more resilient and investment-friendly future.

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