April 2018

April’s Enterprise Africa focusses on a particularly important issue for South Africans – water. For months, the government has been warning of the impending ‘Day Zero’ in Cape Town, when the taps will run dry, but thanks to a concerted effort by almost the entire Western Cape, it’s looking like Day Zero will be avoided altogether.

But the shortage remains. Capetonians still queue for water. And the government is still urging consumers to abide by water restrictions and remain ‘water-wise’.

This problem has helped drive innovation and creativity as people look for inventive solutions to the situation. Oasis Water, the country’s leading purified water retailer, has stepped up by supplying much-needed clean drinking water where it is needed most. Managing Director, Mynhardt Oosthuizen tells Enterprise Africa that the company has opened new stores in Cape Town so that it can supply to communities that are facing shortages. He explains how the company has developed a plan to shift resources from other corners of the country and how a decentralised model is helping to ensure supplies into Cape Town remain strong.

We also talk finance, hearing from Wonga SA CEO, Brett van Aswegen and NFB Financial Services founder and Chairman, Mike Estment. Wonga is positioning itself as a leading short-term finance provider with responsible lending and strong ethics at its heart – a strategy that has helped the business grow significantly since entering the SA market. NFB has grown its assets under management from R25bn to R28bn in two years and is aiming to grow further after completing a deal with Nations Capital, to form Nations NFB.

These stories of success are just a handful of fantastic tales demonstrating how companies in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa remain at the forefront of industry and commerce.

Every month, we bring you a content-rich digital magazine that highlights positivity in business. Enjoy reading our April focus features, and get in touch if you have a success story to spread.