Sam Heavens’ work featured in magazines

Mdumiseni Samuel Zulu, also known as Sam Heavens, is an innovative and skillful young man from Evander who wants to invent things that make life easier.

He is a local photographer, logo specialist and brand designer.

His love for the media industry began at a tender age when his father brought home some magazines.

Sam would quickly go to the advertising section to look at the various designs.

He matriculated at Evander High School in 2013 and immediately took a gap year and worked as an invigilator at the Gert Sibande College.

He also did carpentry piece jobs to be able to buy a computer to do business on.

Sam’s dream and vision to begin his business grew stronger by the day.

He was inspired during family trips to Johannesburg where he saw various photos and billboards.

“As I was strategising to develop the ideas I had, all the memories from my childhood returned.

“All the minimal, modern and simple designs I were exposed to as a kid came to mind and I wanted to do something with them.

“It is true that the brain stores all the information and we just need to have the capacity to access that information.”

Sam began to take photos and he and his sisters decided to register a company, Heavens Holdings.

It is a family business that offers secure services.

“I head the branding and photography side of the business.

“I remember my income was R35 from a man who wanted me to do flyers and designs.

“At that point I was still with GS Sibande College as an invigilator, so business was slow and I was also teaching myself a couple of tricks.”

Sam said his business began to flourish and gain momentum in 2015.

His photos featured in magazines and newsletters, such as House and Garden Magazine, Kayalami Waterfall Magazine, Sasol events, Osizweni Science Centre events and Forest Flooring.

He said this would not have been possible without the support and lessons he received from Nocwaka and Andile Langa.

The energetic young entrepreneur has big plans for the future and is determined to work and study to see his dreams come true.

“I want to open a huge warehouse where I will be able to take photos of the latest releases of cars such as BMWs or VWs.

“I see myself as a logo specialist to who big brands and companies will come whenever they want to re-brand or do a campaign project.

“I want to do documentary work and I see my fine print on movies.

“I want to be a director of photography or a designer of a certain brand in those movies.”

Sam believes there are many opportunities for the youth in South Africa.

He said the youth must equip themselves with knowledge and the necessary skills for these opportunities.

“We need to do research and have knowledge of what we do as young entrepreneurs.

“We also need to be hands on in whatever we do, for example you cannot sell a drum kit if you do not know how to assemble a drum.”

He is a big fan of music and in his spare time, he plays Fifa and watch movies.

Spending time with his family of eight, especially his mother who is his biggest inspiration because she is also an entrepreneur, keeps him going.

Sam is a devoted Christian and thanked God that his father is raising his so well.

He is also part of the initiative Bazala Market, a social networking platform for local entrepreneurs.