Durban is the next B-I-G thing when it comes to tech companies, even though at the present time, the city is way behind Cape Town and Johannesburg, according to Mohamed Chohan. The chief executive officer of Start-Up Grind in Durban said that presently there were tech companies, which were establishing themselves “behind the scenes.”
Speaking during an interview on Radio Al Ansar’s Friday night talk show, 90 Minutes he said that changes must come. Among the problems faced by tech companies was the high price of data and said that the four major providers demanded and got the highest prices in Africa. “Durban needs to get fast and inexpensive Internet services, fibre lines and competitive prices for data. The city will in the future be able to grow and major expansion will see Durban overtake the other cities to become the major tech centre of South Africa,” said Mr Chohan.
He said that there were talented people who emerged from Durban, some of them had to leave the city to secure jobs in which they could develop their skills and become major players in the fraternity. “The future for Durban is bright. It is very positive and we have the people who are emerging with the capabilities and expertise to build a major industry in our city,” he said.
Pietermaritzburg, he added was the “city of magic” when it came to start-up businesses. “Anyone who starts up a business in Pietermaritzburg and makes a success of it, they will be able to do it in any other city in the country. There is something about that city which has produced so many successful start-up companies,” he said.
Mr Chohan who has hosted 40 extremely successful business people in Durban in his own style of talk show which is Google-inspired and is held regularly at the Pavillion Hotel say that high school and university dropouts seem to go onto becoming the most successful tycoons. “Most of the chief executive officers whom I have interviewed from the 40 in front of an audience of promising entrepreneurs and business people are streetwise and do not hold university degrees. They are people who are able to perform without an education based knowledge and they have been able to observe other people around them and worked out solutions. In my experience, the most successful self-made chief executive is ImtiazEbrahim of Honcho’s Chicken. He started with very little and during his journey, he made mistakes, got hurt. But each time, he lifted himself and was able to carry himself forward. Like other chief executive officers whom, I have interviewed, Mr Ebrahim has persevered, thought out of the box and used the knowledge they gained being streetwise in the business world and succeeded,” he said.
These successful men and women, multi-millionaires and billionaires are extremely humble people. “They do not drive flashy cars or have exorbitant lifestyles. In fact, those that attend our sessions in Durban they arrive driving a Toyota. It’s not about money of wealth creation, it is about being a human being with qualities. When I applied to Google for this job. I was interviewed several times like they must have done with other candidates. Then finally, I was asked why I wanted this job. My response was that I was not in it to make money. I simply wanted to make Durban a cool place for people to live. That got me the job.”
He pointed that the Apple Computer was at first not successful, then they went out and looked at the market. They found that the creative people had been left out. There was no computer on which they could work. “Apple created a computer for creative. They have now become the top computer company in the world.”
Apart from the tech world, what other business would most likely succeed, especially in the Muslim community. Good Food!! “Muslims have always had a good food culture and now some of the women were capitalizing in this direction providing excellent dishes through catering companies which they have set up. Take the Chilli Chocolate which was started by two sisters in Durban and they have flourished. They are now providing the food for corporates and major family functions. I believe that there will be more companies like this emerging that will provide good food, at competitive prices and a brand of service which will make them extremely successful,” said Mr Chohan.
His great-grandfather, Mr Rasool came from Tageswar, Surat and settled in Durban.My great-grandmother was born in Durban. My grandfather was Yusuf Chohan, he was also known as Aesop and Jerry. My father is ShabirChohan and I am one of three children.
Finally, asked what was unique about Muslims in Durban in particular, he said that they were the only people who went out in the night and drank coffee. All other communities enjoy the beverage throughout the day and most coffee shops close at 4 pm. Except those who have a Muslim clientele.
Farook Khan – 90 Minutes – Radio Al-Ansar2 March 2018