Vivian Reddy

Vivian Reddy is the founder and chairperson of the Edison Power Group. From humble beginnings, armed with little more than a borrowed bakkie and R500, he has built a business empire that spans multiple industries.

Vivian’s entrepreneurial career began in the apartheid era, where being a non-white business owner came with numerous obstacles. “When I started my company, it was called Reddy Electrical, but we couldn’t get any contracts because of my surname,” he recalls. Recognising the barriers created by the political climate, he changed the name to Edison Power. “Suddenly, people started calling and I had to pretend to be Mr Edison to get work.” This tactic, born out of necessity, laid the foundation for what would become one of South Africa’s leading electrical companies.

Vivian’s first job was a steep learning curve. “I thought I knew what I was doing as I was highly technically qualified but financially, it was a disaster. We worked tirelessly to get the contact completed but my lack of business acumen meant the job almost ruined me.” However, Vivian refused to be defeated. His motivation was fuelled by an encounter he had as a teenager when he met astronaut Neil Armstrong at the 1971 World Scout Jamboree in Japan. Armstrong’s words stuck with him: “He told me, ‘If you can dream it, you can achieve it. Perseverance prevails when all else fails.’”

Vivian clung to these words when a client went bankrupt, leaving him owed R26 000 at a time when a new bakkie cost R7 500. Yet, remembering Armstrong’s advice, he was determined not to let this setback defeat him. He approached everyone he owed money to, explained his situation, and promised to repay them. “Nine months later, I had paid off all of my debts,” Vivian proudly states. Through this, he learned that people appreciate honesty and transparency. “It’s when you run away from your problems that you lose people’s trust.”

As his business grew, so did his involvement in South Africa’s political landscape. In the 1990s, as apartheid was ending, Vivian’s company was one of the few contractors working in South Africa’s black townships. “We electrified hundreds of schools, and it was during this time that I met many political activists,” explained Vivian. His relationship with the African National Congress deepened, and he provided financial support to leaders like Winnie Mandela with whom he shared a close relationship.

This support forged a bond with Nelson Mandela. “After Mandela was released, I was invited to a home where he and Winnie were visiting. I’ll never forget the moment when he hugged me and introduced himself as ‘Nelson Mandela,’ as if I didn’t know who he was,” Vivian laughs. Over time, Vivian would accompany Mandela on several international trips, including a ticker-tape parade in New York and a visit to London’s Trafalgar Square, where nearly a million people gathered to meet Mandela.

SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES
Vivian’s success extends beyond the electrical industry. He ventured into the casino business, fulfilling a dream he’d had since his youth. Eventually, Vivian owned five casinos, including the Sibaya and Pietermaritzburg casinos. Despite having little experience in the gaming industry, he partnered with experts, a strategy that served him well in other ventures.

Vivian’s business instincts led him to opportunities, such as entering the banknote industry. A chance meeting with the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia sparked his interest in polymer banknotes. “I was fascinated by these new polymer notes that couldn’t tear and lasted much longer than paper notes,” Vivian recalls. He saw an opportunity to market these notes in Africa, a move that proved highly successful.

During the South African Post Office’s outsourced management process, Vivian’s consortium, including New Zealand Post, won the contract to manage the service. Over four years, his team and the New Zealand partners transformed the South African Post Office, delivering over a million post boxes, especially in rural areas, and turning it into a profitable venture.

Another example of Vivian’s approach came during the World AIDS Conference in Durban, where he saw an opportunity to enter the healthcare sector.

His team discovered a company called Orasure Technologies, which had developed the world’s first AIDS oral testing device, using a gum swab that could diagnose HIV in minutes. The venture became a massive success, demonstrating once again Vivian’s ability to seize opportunities in unfamiliar industries.

Vivian’s ventures continued to expand to be one of the founders of YFM radio. His property development portfolio includes award winning projects such as Oceans Umhlanga, Africa’s largest mixed- use development. The R4.5 billion project includes the luxurious Radisson Blu Hotel and the Oceans Mall, a high-end shopping mall featuring global fashion brands like Gucci, Burberry, and Versace, and 560 residential units.

Throughout his career, Vivian has remained committed to philanthropy. His company and associated trusts have donated over R280 million to charitable causes and supports 180 welfare organisations. They provide 20,000 meals a day via various feeding schemes. “Our contributions have helped change the lives of over 86,000 under-privileged people in KwaZulu-Natal,” Vivian says proudly. He believes that businesses must contribute to society to create sustainable prosperity. “We cannot live on an island of prosperity surrounded by a sea of poverty. That’s a recipe for disaster.”

Vivian’s philosophy of constant and never-ending improvement (CANEI) drives both his personal and professional life. “Every day, I ask myself, ‘How can I improve?’ Not just in business but in how I treat people, my family, and myself.” At 71, Vivian remains active and energetic, attributing his vitality to regular exercise, a healthy diet, and a positive mindset. “If you don’t look after your health, no amount of wealth will matter,” he advises.

Vivian shows no signs of slowing down, with ongoing projects in Dubai and South Africa, he continues to pursue new ventures. His advice to entrepreneurs is simple: “Dream big, take risks, and never stop learning. And most importantly “NEVER EVER GIVE UP”. The world is full of opportunities, you just have to be bold enough and act as an eagle to seize them.”