As the South African government tries to empower more young entrepreneurs amid a high unemployment rate, one

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Question:

As the South African government tries to empower more young entrepreneurs amid a high unemployment rate, one man is already growing his technological enterprise. He started the business out of the boot of his car 15 years ago and has expanded across South Africa. Entrepreneur, Luvuyo Rani, founder and managing director of IT services company Silulo Ulutho Technologies, is a former teacher who started his company as a micro business from the boot of his car in 2004, selling computers to teachers as his primary target market.

In 2019, Silulo Ulutho Technologies had 42 branches in South Africa and has also started to expand beyond the borders of the country. “Africa has so much opportunity despite its challenges. I’m a dreamer and see the possibilities of this continent,” said Rani. He shared his incredible story of perseverance and resilience during his keynote address at the Annual Association of African Business Schools (AABS) Conference hosted by the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) in June 2019.

“When I began this business, I had no capital. My brother had to make a personal loan of R10 000 as seed capital for the business. Within two months, all that money was gone. “When I went to schools, people said that I was crazy for leaving teaching to sell second-hand computers. Others suspected that I was stealing computers from schools and selling them back to the schools,” Rani said.

Rani saw an opportunity to raise funds and encouraged teachers to form a stokvel. “In a group of six, each would pay R400 a month and within six months each one of them would have a computer. In some schools, I would tell the teachers to give me 70 percent of R2,400 in order for me to buy the computer and they pay the remainder the following month. In dealing with the negativity, I developed a thicker skin and kept on going to the schools and built relations with some teachers. Some of these relationships are ones I have still maintained to this very day,” he said.

Steadily he started setting up internet cafes in Khayelitsha, where he is from, and also realised the need to offer training to people, especially teachers and students on how to use computers. Rani is also a member of USB’s Small Business Academy (SBA) steering committee, which offers a nine-month development programme to small business owners.

His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to really focus on what they are doing. “Only once you have achieved success in one project can you then go on to venture onto new projects. Always remain as passionate as you can about what you do because you will face some extremely challenging times, where passion will keep you sustained and breathe fire to your spirit. “You should always have an attitude that is positive and believe that anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it. And lastly, work hard, dream big, start small but always have a bigger picture in mind,” he advised.

QUESTION 3.1

Using Luvuyo as context, describe the trait theory and comment on the traits exhibited by Luvuyo.

Question breakdown: You need to apply the theoretical components of the trait theory directly to Luvuyo to explain trait theory. Ensure you identify the traits exhibited by Luvuyo

QUESTION 3.2

Discuss whether Luvuyo is a manager or leader (or both). Justify your choice. Give a theory and explain

Question breakdown: - ensure you highlight what makes a leader and what makes a manager. Give a clear choice on how you feel. You need to JUSTIFY (present evidence) for your choice.