The Sunday Mail
SOUTH Africa business tycoon, the brains behind the famous GAU train has challenged women to dismiss the notion that they cannot succeed in business while fulfilling their marital obligations.
Mrs Nolwandle Mboweni, chief executive of Vela International is the woman behind the R45 billion Gau Train project which is the first ever mass rapid transit railway system in South Africa and the continent.
She is a shareholder in Bombela Concession Company, the operators of this first speed train.
Described as a woman passionate about women and youth empowerment, Mrs Mboweni launched Proverbs 31 Mentorship, a programme meant to mentor young and old women on how to start new businesses as well as to balance family and career/business.
As a Christian wife to a medical practitioner, mother to three children and a business tycoon, Mrs Mboweni said women can have it all if they hold their belief high.
“What I have also said while sharing is that there is a lie by the devil that you cannot be successful in business and also be married, be a successful wife and a mother. And whatever you want to be.
“So I’m handling being a wife, mum and businessperson. I still cook for my husband. Even when my children where still young I used to do homework with them,” she said highlighting that Christian principles have inspired her success.
Speaking on the sidelines of a breakfast meeting hosted during the four-day, Today’s Woman conference, Mrs Mboweni chronicled her inspiring story.
“You would work in a company which would say can you come after six because we had no office (to host meetings). I’m just saying humble beginnings, don’t despise them. Even in our minutes we always had different venues.
“If we meet at Mama (Eunor) Guti’s office or sister Prisca’s sitting room, this is where we started.
“Anyway the banks said you want to build this speed train first in Africa how much do you have? We started scratching our heads. Banks didn’t want to give us money, they said we were a high risk, this project has never been done anywhere in Africa,” said Mrs Mboweni who has been featured as one of the most inspirational women in South Africa.
Before the project came to conclusion, Mrs Mboweni said they became a darling of the people as South Africa had been awarded the right to host the FiFa 2010 World Cup.
“I like God when he likes to show off. You know when you have never had a billion in your hand you will always say this project will cost a billion.
“Little did we know. We ran short, we ran short and then we had brought this machine which was blasting. For the train to go we needed to blast, break the walls and do everything.
“That machine cost about R500 million. We had bought it from Germany and there was load shedding in South Africa.
“Now that machine doesn’t use a generator. Now we have asked for R5 billion. Now we were even scared to ask for more money.
“To cut the long story short the project was about R45 billion. Now there was the World Cup coming in 2010 and all of a sudden we were darlings.
“Everybody wanted us to finish because they wanted to shine to say in Africa there is a speed train. That is God for you. The train is running we can’t meet the demand. That is God who says I will supply,” she added.
While the Gau Train is one of her major projects, she said all of her businesses have been inspired by Christian principles.
“You know it’s not only on the Gau Train project but my entire businesses because I am involved in a number of big transactions.
“So I saw the hand of God by first trusting in Him and that gave me a reward, then in other businesses as well. All of them are quite big.
“You know I have seen fasting and prayer work because you are able to ask from God and God gives you direction.
“He always come through even when there are tribulations I always seek God. Christians are more armed and must maximally use that. The world uses the principles of God, but Christians are not using that and yet they have got the platform.”
According to a profile by International Women’s Forum, Mrs Mboweni ventured into the business world in 1999 partnering ABSA Bank as a director and a shareholder in All Pay Gauteng to pay state pensions on behalf of Government, for Gauteng’s elderly citizens.
In 2000 she was appointed by Sun International as a director and shareholder at the Grandwest (Cape town), Afrisun Gauteng and as a trustee of Afrisun Community Trust (CSI of Sun International.
Four years later she was appointed as a director and shareholder of Phumelela Gaming and leisure (Pty)an international horseracing listed company.
In addition, she has a bursary fund through which she has sponsored students at tertiary level while also being a donor of Mandela Children’s Fund among other projects.
