Meet the face of business in Polokwane
Simphiwe Mdlalose says he would like to leave a legacy of projects that will be spoken about years after he is gone
POLOKWANE – With over 20 years experience in the media management industry, and having worked with some of the country’s biggest brands, a striking personality and a knack for business, it’s no wonder Simphiwe Mdlalose is becoming the face of business in Polokwane.
Born in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, Simphiwe grew up in the vibrant Soweto, but it is in Limpopo where his success story began.
While studying a B.Com degree at the University of Limpopo (Turfloop), he got involved in the founding of Radio Turf. That is where his journey in the media sector began.
Simphiwe served as a training manager at the National Community Radio Forum in 1996, where he serviced more than 70 community radio stations. Here he worked with many emerging community radio stations and was key in helping those stations begin, as well as sustaining them.
His break came in 2003 when he co-founded MSG Afrika Investment Holdings, a private equity firm specialising in investments in the technology, media and telecommunications sectors. It was through MSG that Capricorn FM was born. Simphiwe and his partner, Given Mkhari applied and were granted a licence through the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa.
Simphiwe and Mkhari made history with Capricorn FM as it was the first 100% black-owned, 100% black-managed commercial radio station in the country. Today, Simphiwe owns Mdlalose Holdings, a diversified investment company invested in media, printing, marketing and communications, telecoms, mining, property and logistics.
This is all thanks to the great head start I got at Radio Turf.
Simphiwe always knew he wanted to be in business as it gives him a chance to make a difference in people’s lives. Learning from businessman, Nkunku Sowazi, whom he says is humble yet extraordinary, he says that to him, success in business is being able to live ones passion while you make a profit.
“Making a difference is what keeps me going. I always find new ways of doing things and also being a catalyst for change.”
Being an entrepreneur, Simphiwe says, has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are you are in control of your time and you can decide what you want to spend your life doing. The disadvantages is that you have to fight for your space in order to make a living.
He also says it is difficult owning your own business as people look up to you, but you have no one to look up to when faced with challenges. Finding meaningful projects is also a challenge.
“The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make is they start businesses without a proper plan and they do things that are not sustainable.”
It isn’t all about business with Simphiwe, he is also a family man, and separating his personal life from business is a challenge, but he manages to make it work through compromise.
“What I have learnt is to be present when I spend time with my family. I give my undivided attention and I make sure we spend quality time together,” he says.
