Education high on businessman’s priority list

‘IF I have it my way, all big companies countrywide will be compelled to plough back profits into the education sector.

‘Education is indeed the most powerful weapon to change the world.’

That is the sentiment of Bhejane Quarries Managing Director, Dumisani Buthelezi.

A teacher by profession, Buthelezi was born in Vryheid and relocated to Empangeni with his parents when he was young.

He began his primary education at Bhejane Primary, Lubana Primary, Sbonokuhle Junior Secondary and matriculated at Khombindlela High School in 1987.

He enrolled at the then eSikhawini College of Education and obtained a Secondary Teachers Diploma (STD), and started working as a teacher at Tholokuhle High School, specialising in maths and biology.

He also taught at Mlokothwa High School in Nongoma, before moving to Mfinyeli High in the same area. It was at this school where he ended up as Principal, from 2004 to 2014.

‘While teaching, the temptation to venture into business.

‘Eventually I had to overcome the fear for the unknown. It was in 2015 when I was appointed as a facilitator of a private company based in Durban, which was contracted to the KZN Department of Education.

‘My responsibilities were to conduct workshops for principals and their deputies in leadership and management.

‘In 2016 I was approached by Bhejane Traditional Authority to represent them in the process of taking over the quarry in the area in partnership with Ungoye Mining, owned by prominent businessman, Musa Myeni.

‘In October last year I was officially appointed as the Managing Director of Bhejane Quarries. All we do there is to blast, crush and sell various types of stones and quarries in our plant, which is situated a few kilometres away from the eNseleni township.

‘I have a dream of taking this company to greater heights. Failure would have a bad reflection on the capacity of black businessmen to sustain their businesses,’ he said.

Buthelezi is married to Nomusa, a teacher at Tholokuhle High School, and they have two boys.