In 2001, Rendani Ramukhuba became the first student from Tshiitwa Secondary School in Mashamba village to obtain distinctions in English and Economics, both at higher grade. This was just the start of much bigger things to come and the ambitious young man went on to obtain a B.Comm degree from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Rendani is a man filled with passion and dreams. "I consider myself to be driven, not by the desire for glory or riches, but by the compassion for my fellow human beings," he says. During his years of study, he became actively involved in projects to enhance entrepreneurial skills. He is a co-founder of the Young Entrepreneurs Development Association (YEDA), a section-21 company aimed at assisting young businesses. YEDA’s aim is to create an environment wherein small and micro enterprises can flourish.

The young man from Mashamba also left his mark on leadership forums. He was part of the university’s student representative council and served on the university forum, the highest advisory body at Wits. His mentors included the well-known Clem Sunter, who is also chairman of the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund.

Rendani says he owes much of his academic success to his sponsors, the Solly’s Group of Companies. The group offered him a bursary which enabled him to further his studies. According to Mr Solly Noor, the bursary was awarded with very few strings attached. "There is only a moral obligation, and that is that Rendani must also help other people who are in need," he says.

This seems to be very much the direction that Rendani is heading. For the time being, he is actively job hunting, but once he has secured a good position, he wants to use his knowledge to work towards the upliftment of others. "I wish more people had the vision of Mr Noor," says Rendani. He mentions that when he finished matric, very few of the businesspeople in his area wanted to extend a hand and help him.

Rendani can be reached at 072-515 7630.