Dr Anton Rupert was one of South Africa’s most distinguished industrialists. In classic rags-to-riches fashion, he started with a £10 investment which he eventually transformed into a multi-million pound international financial conglomerate that saw him listed in Forbes magazine among the 500 richest men in the world.

Anton Edward Rupert was born in the Karoo town of Graff-Reinet in 1916. He helped to pay his way through the University of Pretoria by starting a dry cleaning business, which soon went bankrupt. It was to be his worst and most constructive business failure. After completing his Masters degree in Chemistry he meddled with hand-rolling cigarettes in a garage at his home. He developed a cigarette-making company named Voorbrand, soon to be renamed Rembrandt Ltd, whose overseas tobacco interests were eventually consolidated in Rothmans.

Rupert soon acquired interests in an array of South African companies ranging from gold mining to banking and medical supplies, demonstrating his business savvy and ability to diversify. In his early years with Richemont, with South Africa still under apartheid and becoming increasingly isolated, Rupert opted to move his major interests, including Rothmans, offshore by establishing the Luxembourg-listed Compagnie Financière Richemont SA company. Perhaps with some foresight into the future he somewhat predicted a deviation from tobacco products and, through Richemont, expanded into luxury goods with Cartier, Montblanc and Dunhill.

Currently the business empire encompasses hundreds of companies located in 35 countries on six continents, with an employment standing of 19 570. Combined they mustered a net profit in the region of $599 million for the 2010 fiscal year (according to their own press release). Nevertheless the company was not left out of the economic downturn, as it managed an impressive $1.76 billion the year before.

It was in 1993 that the Richemont tobacco and luxury goods operation separated into Rothmans International NV/PLC and Vendome Luxury Group SA/PLC respectively. The business continued to soar and in 1996 the merger of Richemont’s tobacco interests with those in South Africa, held by Rembrandt Group Limited, saw Richemont owning 67 percent of the tobacco group. Vendome Luxury Group also managed to acquire watch maker Vacheron Constantin in the same year. In 1998 Richemont then bought out Vendome (owning 100 percent of the luxury goods interest).

The achievements within the luxury sector continued through the next decade, as Richemont acquired a controlling 60 percent in Van Cleef & Arpels in 1999 (before a further 20 percent in 2001), together with Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC and A. Lange & Söhne. The interest in British American Tobacco (BAT) continued in 2007 with Richemont and Remgro reaching an agreement to combine their equity interest. In the same year Richemont and Polo Ralph Lauren announced the formation of a 50/50 joint venture. They also acquired an interest in Azzedine Alaia (the Parisian fashion house).

The next notable restructure came in 2008 in which Richemont separated the luxury goods business from its other interests, forming Reinet Investments S.C.A as a separately traded vehicle for holding the non-luxury goods businesses formerly held by Richemont.

Johann Rupert, the son of founder Anton Rupert (who handed over the reins in 1990), took over from Norbert Platt this year as CEO. This position shift came at the same time as the much publicised offer by Richemont to shareholders in NET-A-PORTER Limited to acquire all of the shares. The premier online luxury fashion retailer, established in 2000, features collections from over 300 of the world’s leading designers and offers unrivalled customer service. It ships to over 170 countries worldwide and recently celebrated its millionth order. The offer values the equity of NET-A-PORTER at £350 million. Richemont currently holds some 33 percent of the issued share capital of NET-A-PORTER Limited.

With partnerships as the cornerstone of its business philosophy, the iconic Richemont brand is sure to weather the economic storm and keep its pulse on the billions it aims to make in the future.

For more information on Richemont visit, www.richemont.com. Credit: Source: www.richemont.co.za

Live Once, Live Loud

Party throwing veterans Thirst Bar Services, Anything Goes and Attica have teamed up to create a pop-up club-lounge-bar called YOLO (You Only Live Once) for the duration of the World Cup at the trendy Cape Quarter in Cape Town. International and local socialites can watch the games on big screens and then stick around to sip Champagne and yummy cocktails while listening to some of the country’s top DJs, with music and entertainment selected by local celeb DJ Shaun Duvet. For bookings and more information visit www.yolobar.co.za

The higher road

Hyde Park Shopping is known for exceptional retail stores offering the most sophisticated local and international fashion. The Woolworths franchise has been evolving for the past few years into more than just casual, comfortable and affordable clothing and now offers more imported high-fashion labels like fresh and young Country Road and the more mature Trenery from Australia, and their Hyde Park outlet has just undergone a revamp to reflect this further. The store’s clothing section has been taken over by Country Road and Trenery independent flagships including a broad range of Country Road homeware and children’s clothing. Visit Woolworths, Upper Level Hyde Park Shopping to experience it for yourself.

No snooze needed

Crowne Plaza Johannesburg-The Rosebank has expanded on their initial Sleep Advantage programme. When the hotel first opened they introduced ThisWorks kits of pure essential oils, Breathe In to clear the head and Deep Calm to encourage sleep and relaxation. Taking things to a new level they now promise weary tourists and businessmen on tight schedules in need of a more peaceful stay further services – like a quiet zone of bedrooms away from elevators and ice machines where noise is banned from 21:00 until 10:00; luxurious bedding for the most comfortable sleep; podcasts with advice on how to get the best night’s sleep as well as the ThisWorks aromatherapy kit. For bookings and info visit www.therosebank.co.za

Spicy Attraction

Following the success of its beach club prelude, Pepper Club on the Beach, the main attraction has opened its doors to praise – Pepper Club hotel, a R400 million development in the heart of Cape Town’s city centre caters to the growing need for luxury hotels in the city. The hotel offers 210 residences, a luxurious spa, top-quality restaurant, an intimate private cinema, swimming pool with 360 degree views, gymnasium and features Cape Town’s largest penthouse. For further information visit www.pepperclub.co.za

Bag to the bone

Focusing on high-end luxury bags in an array of materials, each S.C. Vizcarra bag is a unique creation, taking up to seven days to hand produce. All bags are beautifully lined with silk or canvas with stainless and brushed metal finishes. They are sold throughout Japan and Korea, and are available at Suzannah in London or by private order, info@vizcarra1925.com.

Boots and all

The trend in winter footwear sees heels take a step down and “rider boots” take centre stage. From pleated bottoms and buckled for a more grungy look to the super slick flats in clean exquisite leather – which is a key silhouette. Queue stores offer the full spectrum with its own signature styles as well as the exclusive Pringle Collection. Featured here is a classic Pringle riding boot, R2 199.

Lasting memory

The final whistle will soon be blown, and most of the excitement surrounding the FIFA 2010 World Cup will come to an end, yet, should you wish to carry the memory of the event with you, the World Cup Dome ring is perfect. The 18-carat black gold dress ring encrusted with 9.3 carats of pave set fancy grey diamonds, valued at R123 140. Whoever purchases the ring may have the name of their country’s football team, as well as all the names of the players in their World Cup squad, engraved on the underside of the football dome, using Shimansky’s cutting-edge laser engraving device.

Glorious glow

Online décor retailer Robert Thomson has announced his latest Glow Collection. Designed by acclaimed French designer Philippe Boulet, this alluring and provocative collection uses ambient lighting set within Louis 16th style contemporary furniture to give a cutting-edge combination. Each piece of furniture has a unique inner lighting system which enables the piece to glow in one specific or multiple colours, using rechargeable long-lasting batteries. The Glow Collection is available online exclusively from robert-thomson.com. Prices start from R6 999. Visit www.robert-thomson.com or call 086 111 5367 for any queries.

Sharp shooter

Sony has nine new additions to its range of compact and stylish Cyber-shot cameras. Featuring intuitive imaging and advanced video recording, the new Cyber-shot range delivers effortless photo capture and beautiful images for any user. Integrated for the first time (on the Cyber-shot TX7 and HX5V), is Full HD AVCHD movie recording. This allows one to capture high definition movies with smooth subject movement and sharp images even under low light conditions. Prices range from R999 to R4 499.

Pandora’s jewellery box

Through numerous pieces, creative collections and infinite options, Pandora aims to inspire women to celebrate their individuality. The concept behind the Pandora charm bracelet allows one to play with their creativity and create a beautiful piece of jewellery matching their personal taste. Whether creating, love charms, good luck charms, colour charms or fashion charms, it all starts with one piece. Prices range from R2 000 to R100 000. For more information visit www.pandora-jewelry.com

Puppy love

Aside from the fact that that the brand’s Basset Hound mascot melts your heart, the Hush Puppies label is internationally-renowned for stylish, casual shoes and accessories for the fashion-focused yuppies of today who still demand comfort from their footwear. Their newest concept store has recently opened in The Mall of Rosebank offering the latest international ranges, showcasing an eclectic mix of vintage material and contemporary design. Visit www.hushpuppies.co.za or call 0861 HUSHPUPS for more information.

Hot as ice

The latest Protea Fire & Ice hotel has opened in the Melrose Arch development. The sleek and sexy hotel with modern finishes is the perfect new spot for trendy socialites to enjoy a cocktail, some delicious Springbok or burgers and even a speciality milkshake from their vast selection of decadent flavours, enjoyed in a setting of rich colours and an underlying classic Hollywood theme.

Double the lovin’

Having fast become one of the most popular Doppio Zero (double zero) restaurants, the Green Point representative is bustling from early morning until the evenings. Showing off a wide range of Mediterranean dishes, it is the ideal spot to sit and relax for anything from a light breakfast to a three-course meal, with signature dishes like bolognaise on toasted sourdough bread for breakfast to the gnocchi with roast lamb, red wine and napolitana sauce for a more warming meal.

Opening at 6:30am you can even pop into their bakery for a quick coffee and croissant on the go. Joburgers are big fans of the chain too, with the latest Doppio Zero having moved to The Firs’ piazza area – ideal for a long Saturday of people watching. For more information visit www.doppio.co.za

Quality to the Maxim

Across from Maximillien restaurant, Sandton’s Legacy Corner Mall opens its latest trendy offering – Maxim Lounge. With smokers being shunned and pushed to the cold curb, this stylish cigar bar has been warmly welcomed. The lounge is an upmarket hotspot to enjoy a wide selection of wine, brandy, whisky and cognac to pair with your favourite cigar. A members’ programme allows patrons to keep their treasured cigars in a secure personal vault until their next visit. For more information visit www.maximlounge.co.za

Ring leader

Judith Ripka, the New York based jewellery designer, has a range of Monaco rings which are simply dazzling. Whether you are rocking the champagne quartz, black onyx, blue quartz, canary crystal, turquoise, mint green quartz or rose quartz (all in 18-carat gold) you are sure to be noticed. Prices range from R34 560 to R108 000. For more information visit www.judithripka.com

Framed

For ladies the trend is bold and beautiful, with Michael Kors and Fendi ahead of the rest when it comes to the perfect frames. Less of an aviator look, the design houses seem to be inspired by jewellery (mostly Kors) and Fendi influenced by its established handbag designs. Personal favourites from Kors; the Manhattan style (with curb chain/ID chain detail). Don’t miss the new style of the distinctive Fendi logo. Prices range from R2 499 to R3799. For further information, please contact Moscon on (011) 483 8001 or visit www.moscon.co.za, www.marchon.com.

Stylish year

We have hit the half way point in 2010, but that doesn’t mean the remainder of the year can’t be stylish. A Year in Fashion, R550, by Pascal Morché provides a look at the glittering world of fashion, presenting trends, designers and icons of style of the past century. All 365 days of the year are accounted for, with the added benefit of note space should you wish to record your own fashionable memories or appointments. For more information visit www.prestel.com

Keeping the cuff

What better way to keep your cufflinks in pristine condition than with a cufflink box from Penhaligons, R2 800. The interior red lining adds the perfect bit of style should you wish to leave the box open for all to adore. Option extra; Mont Blanc platinum plated cufflinks, R2 810.

Mighty sword

The Montblanc Meisterstück No. 149 Fountain Pen, R7 130, features an 18-carat gold nib inlaid with platinum together with three gold-plated rings for added elegance. On the odd occasion that one actually uses the pen, you might notice, “4,810” engraved on the nib – a tribute to the height of the Mont Blanc mountain. No doubt “Meisterstück” (meaning masterpiece) perfectly describes the luxurious degree of hand craftsmanship.

Shoulder strap

The hand-stitched shoulder satchel from Billykirk is modelled after a WWII Belgium Map Case. One solid piece of cow hide is stitched with heavy wax cording to form the satchel. All in leather, it features an adjustable strap with shoulder piece, dull silver rings and collar buttons. Available from Croft&Co – 66 Tyrone Avenue, Parkview. For more information call (011) 646 3634.

For HIM

Espa Facial Foam, R470, removes impurities before shaving. With natural cleansing agents, extracted from the yucca plant, combined with menthol, honey and meadow foam based conditioners, your skin will feel ultra-clean supple and smooth.

Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Mask, R535, features skin-conditioning evening primrose oil and vitamin E to ensure the skin’s softness and suppleness.

Nimue Super Hydrating Serum, R499, is a booster treatment for additional hydration and anti-ageing support in all skin types and conditions. The light fresh gel concentrate delivers immediate moisture to saturate and refresh the skin.

Clarins Men Shave Ease, R350, is a two-in-one oil, rich in concentrated plant extracts. It can be used on dry skin before applying shaving gel, or on wet skin for a quick easy shave.

Skin Nutrition Complexion Brightening Serum, R595, is designed to even skin tone and improve radiance through diacetyl boldine to lighten the complexion and xylinium black tea ferment to brighten the complexion and boost radiance.

ghd Sculpting Wax, R195, proves that ghd is not only for the ladies. With a matt-effect texturising wax it gives great long-lasting definition and is ideal for shorter, funkier styles.

Theravine Hydrating Mango Face Balm, R304. The textured facial balm intensely hydrates and protects as it captures and prevents moisture loss, leaving the skin feeling comfortable and hydrated.

Diesel Only the Brave Iron Man Limited Edition, R680 for 75ml, embodies the essence of both the Iron Man character and users of the Diesel fragrance. In a fist design bottle, in bold red and gold for a limited time, evoking the power and strength of the film, the fragrance is also housed in a one-of-a-kind box featuring strips from the original Iron Man comic.

For HER

Dr Hauschka eye shadow palette, R305, includes four rich shades of brown and grey to enhance the natural beauty of the eyes. The silk powder, which offers pH balancing and protective qualities glides on effortlessly and blends naturally.

iS Clinical White Lightening Complex, R1 500, uses a powerful botanical combination of Norwegian kelp extract and bearberry extract to safely and effectively lighten and brighten the skin.

Mama Mio Shrink to Fit Hip and Thigh Cream, R695, is a sink-in-quick serum cream packed with radically effective ingredients to help reduce the appearance of cellulite, restore elasticity, reduce water retention and sponginess and increase firmness. Visit the Mama Mio website to see stockist list, www.maternalbliss.co.za

Yves Saint Laurent Opium fragrance, R895, is an iconic winter fragrance with its blend of cinnamon and pepper, orange and pimento, carnation, jasmine, rose and ylang ylang, vanilla, benzoin, patchouli and sweet myrrh.

L’Absolu Créme de Brilliance by Lancôme, R330 (L’Absolu Rouge, R300), hydrates the lips and makes them visibly smoother thanks to Pro-Xylane™ (an anti-ageing molecule). Lips also appear plumed and instantly replenished.

Orlane Radiance Lift Firming Eye Contour, R995, features biotech proteins which lighten the skin with a “lifting” effect, together with green tea which eliminates toxins and thus combats the ageing effect.

Estee Lauder Hydrationist Maximum Moisture Crème, R495, encourages skin’s natural ‘barrier building’ abilities so it holds on to more moisture and fights signs of premature ageing more effectively.

The ghd Colour Collection, R2 250, is available in a rainbow of colours with unique names to match – purple indulgence, green envy, blue serenity and red lust (featured here) – the ghd Colour Collection is available at selected salons nationwide.

For HIM

Nimue Skin Activator, R274, is a multi-active antioxidant complex that helps restore skin tone, firmness and elasticity, as well as reduce the appearance of skin redness.

Ahava Soothing Body Milk, R375, is a leave-on dead sea mud formulation for the relief of dry and sensitive skin. It effectively treats dry skin factors like scaling, redness, roughness and cracking.

Kérastase Resistance Volumorphose, R2 223 (30 x 20ml) is a contouring treatment for fine and vulnerable hair. It results in a deep thickening of the hair fibre for stronger hair with increased volume.

Clarins Men Moisture Balm, R385, is a non-oily hydrating balm, which helps comfort and firm the skin on contact. It also protects against pollution. For best results apply after shaving to soothe discomfort.

Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA Eye, R259, identifies three different wrinkle types, permanent, reversible and embryonic, it is then able to intervene, reducing the appearance of wrinkles thanks to the Pro Retinol-A Complex.

Skin Nutrition Facial Resurfacing Exfoliator, R495, is a gel designed to enzymatically resurface the skin and brighten the complexion using bromelain (pineapple) and papain (papaya).

Uriage Thermal Water, R69.95 for 30ml, protects the skin, bringing the benefits of pure water rich in essential minerals and trace elements. More than just providing a simple feeling of freshness, it hydrates and soothes the skin.

L’Oreal Professionnel Texture Expert Lumicontrôle Modelling Nutri-wax, R265, is a pearlescent nourishing wash for normal to think hair. Giving control and definition to the hair with a flexible hold for sculpted styles.

For HER

Sensai Silk Peeling Powder, R640, is a fast-foaming, exceptionally gentle friction-free exfoliator that soothes and moisturises while re-texturising the skin, leaving a moist sensation after rinsing.

Essie Winter Collection, R89.95 each, allows you to spice up your nails using its new “Sweet Time of the Year” collection. Pictured here; Rock Candy – The Sweetest Pink and Mind Candy Apple – Cool Fresh Mint.

St Tropez Perfect Legs, R595.This ultra-rich, radical tanning duo combines a gradual fresh self tan and a flawless finish of instant bronze make up especially for legs.

Estee Lauder, Double Wear, Stay-in-Place Lipstick, R235 (featured here in Stay Ruby), features 12-hour staying power. The smooth, creamy lipstick also boosts transfer resistant colour.

Clarins Eau Ressourçant Rebalancing Fragrance, R440 for 100ml, is a relaxing fragrance based on basil, iris, cedar and benzoin, as well as the well-being of sarsaparilla, robinia and longan.

M.A.C Eye Kohl Crayon Kohl, R120, (pictured here in Smoulder) is the perfect shade to create the smoky eye. The smooth texture (courtesy of the castor oil ingredient) allows for the colour to glide smoothly along the eyelid.

L’Oreal Color Appeal Trio Pro, R144.94 each, (pictured here: Stay Blue and Chocolate Addiction) is the perfect compact selection of colours which can easily create a dramatic look. The size also allows the product to fit perfectly into any make up bag.

Nesti Dante Dolce Vivere, Fine Natural Soap (Portofino), R55, is the classic harmony of rose water and marine lily with the extravagant note of flax, to reveal an unexpected sensation as if you were in Portofino, Italy itself.

When a client walks through John Jacob Interiors, what can they expect and how would you describe your work?

My design range is very broad – think super and modern classics. However, the common thread in my work is glamorous whatever concept is employed. Projects differ with specific aesthetic languages informed by the buildings and the client’s desires. What I aspire to as a designer is a design language that transcends fashion and even decoration. A design language rooted in ancient values to express existing environments.

What is the most sought after architectural design many clients choose for their homes and why?

As an example, many clients in Europe tend to like old buildings with modern interiors while South African clients choose classic buildings and matching interiors and country style is also becoming popular. People want to express a nasty cliché, in the case of country living with Provençal inspiration. I think design should always be eclectic.

When you approach a new project what triggers your vision – your emotional heart or technical challenge?

It is a combination of the client’s personality and architecture of the building. This then allows me to draw inspiration from this environment to design what works for the client and the architecture of the building. My primary focus is to create a beautiful architectural space with proportioned doors and windows creating focal points for furniture arrangements. Most importantly the space should be exciting and move you without a stitch of furniture or decoration.

If somebody asked you today what you were, an artist or designer, what would you say?

I would say artist because I have to visualise the concept and idea, designer as I then translate that concept into reality, implementing that idea so it makes sense.

How should one go about a complete redecoration?

It is important to let the building speak otherwise you end up with something half-baked. People think they can call in a decorator tomask and upgrade the old without dealing with the fundamental essence of the building. This does not work. You have all been to show houses and seen how some old buildings have been modernised. Instinctively you can feel that something is not right because what has been done is going against the grain of the building and imposing a conflicting idea on it. Oscar Wilde once said that fashion is a form of ugliness so dreadful that we have to change it every six months. In design I am opposed to the concept of applying décor trends to the environment without addressing the underlying interior architectural form of the space, its integrity of the furniture arrangement, curtain treatment and how these are balanced in a room and the house.

Your interiors are described as having integrity and layers of meaning. Tell us what this means?

They are sympathetic to the architect of the building, subtly with reference to different time periods and worlds. I use furniture pieces from all over the world that create beautiful interiors. My interiors speak of style that transcends fashion and even interior decoration. It is about reinterpreting the old to make something new. The concept of everything and anything goes is filtered down to a kind of mass retail level of ordinariness – it is tiring and uninspiring. As a designer, it is essential that I have a clear and in-depth understanding of chosen style. My work results from a search for simplicity, restraint in what I do and a return to traditional values.

Which one of your works elevated you to another level?

It is not any one particular job but a combination of various projects. Each different in its architectural structure and so is the client. My work is the result of researched perspectives into the methodology of incredible designers working around the world. A designer needs to be open to learn it is the only way to grow.

You are famous for your attention to detail. How do you keep control over the minutia when you are involved in so much?

I work with a team of dedicated people and together we ensure work is carried out as it should.

John Jacob Interiors is located on 233 Bree Street in Cape Town.

Visit www.johnjacobinteriors.com or call (021) 422 0105.

The essential relationships were between the artists and contextual Africa – that they “share an interest in the dynamics of place and geography in reference to the African continent”. Work that appealed to me varied in both style and medium but had more obvious relationships with the In Context marker of the exhibition and stood out as exceptional.

Ghada Amer and Reza Farkhondeh’s collaboration Lady in Pink alludes to the portrayal of women’s sexuality in popular culture. The countries of the women’s birth, Egypt and Iran respectively, lend more drama to their work. Lady in Pink forms part of a series of prints called Roses off Limits which was completed by Amer and Farkhondeh at Pace Prints in New York in 2008.

The intricately woven bottle-top sculptures of El Anatsui resonate with the work of our local artists and their found object medium. Ink Spill is one of his works that encompasses a kind of cosmic thinking with its basis as reference to political and cultural events in his native Ghana.

South African Kendal Geers, now resident in Belgium, was commissioned to do a work for a set of official FIFA 2010 World Cup posters and in the process completed the series Free Balling. His reference was urbandictionary.com and he says, “it’s a pun on something sacred and profane, high and low simultaneously”.

Michelangelo Pistoletto’s Labirinto e Grande Pozzo is a massive installation of cardboard, instantly recognisable as the material of packaging and universal industrial making. Pistoletto describes the labyrinth and well of glass as, “a winding and unforeseeable road that leads us to the place of the revelation of the knowledge.”

Robin Rode is another South African working abroad, this time in Berlin. His canvas is a wall and his art is of “impermanence which exists one day then disappears another”. Paper Planes is described as a moment of flimsiness yet with a start, middle and an end. The medium is a two minute 40 second HD digital animation transferred to Blu-ray disc.

Mikhael Subotzky and Patrick Waterhouse have created a mesmerising and voyeuristic look into the lives of the largely immigrant population of Ponte City. There three tapestries: The doors to the apartments, the view from the windows and thetelevision sets. This work is Windows, Ponte City and captures the magnificent views from the building, largely ignored by the residents who, according to the artists, spend most of their time watching television.

Minette Vári’s single channel video installation, Alien, is a morphing of old South African television footage with her own body into a surreal self portrait within a futuristic and almost disturbing alien political landscape. Kendal Geers says this of Vári, “Using the self as both subject and object is certainly not neutral, for within the white African female body, lurks the history of her country and her race”.

In Context has been taking place in the city of Johannesburg from early May and runs until 17 July. It is an initiative of the Goodman Gallery, the Goethe-Institut, the French Institute of South Africa, Culturesfrance, the British Council, the Kirsh Foundation, the Nirox Foundation, Johannesburg City, the Johannesburg Art Gallery, Galleria Continua and the Apartheid Museum. The venue for the above installations is Arts on Main but other venues include Goodman Gallery Project Space at Arts on Main, Nirox Foundation Space at Arts on Main, the Johannesburg Art Gallery, the Apartheid Museum, the Johannesburg CBD and Melrose Arch.

Source: The In Context Catalogue

Rapelang and her two colleagues Wilter du Toit and Lungisa Matshoba, then 23 years old, founded Yeigo Communications shortly after completing their studies at the University of Cape Town. She graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor in Business Science majoring in finance and an Honours in Computer Science.

Yeigo specialises in the development, implementation, deployment and marketing of software-based communications solutions that take full advantage of convergence trends within the mobile arena.

TelFree takes the four most popular means of communication and combines them into a single application where one can access everything at once. The four have a unified single platform referred to as Calls where TelFree provides a single global call rate to anywhere in the world for the same price, she explains.

When Yeigo launched in 2007, it was among the first companies worldwide to offer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services for cellphones. Asked about the relationship between Yeigo and TelFree Group, she says “This partnership brought the latest unified communication solutions for mobile phones, pioneering carrier-grade telecoms infrastructure on par with the incumbent operators, locally and internationally”.

Rapelang is very passionate about Yeigo and what it has achieved and says that her role remains to continue with the delivery of cutting-edge mobile technology. At TelFree, she assists in utilising Yeigo’s technology within the broader telecoms environment for the benefit of the group.

Always busy and on the run, she says, given her two important jobs, she has yet to attain a complete work-life balance. However, this is a decision she made consciously to relinquish for a few years in order to establish the success of what TelFree is doing.

Like many young companies, she says life does not follow a typical day, telecoms and technology move fast making it hard to tell what will grab her attention on that day. Rapelang is yet to find balance between her work and life and has received acknowledgement from the industry thanks to Yeigo’s innovative technology. In 2007, she was selected as an Endeavour Entrepreneur and was a finalist in the BBQ Young Business Achiever Award.

She attended Roedean School in Johannesburg and passed Matric with seven distinctions and went on to study at the University of Cape Town. She assumed leadership roles in the Commerce Students Council and Young Women in Finance.

Her strong leadership abilities led to her selection to attend a number of leadership conferences with companies such as Accenture, Unilever and Edcon. She also completed internships and vacation programmes with Deloitte, JPMorgan and Business Beat before graduating in 2005.

Although she has achieved so much since her graduation, she says there is always room to improve and challenges to deal with, especially in her industry.

South Africa still has slow telecoms deregulation processes when compared to its African counterparts such as Uganda. We have finally seen the regulator remedy, the absurd reality where new operators such as TelFree had to pay a wholesale rate of R1.25 to terminate calls to the incumbent operators while the incumbent operators pay a retail rate to business customer for less than R1. This makes it difficult for new entrants to compete because of the high costs of telecoms in this country, she says.

Another major limitation has been access to quality international bandwidth from South Africa and this is still being addressed with the new undersea cable, Seacom. “We are in a position to change how people, particularly in developing countries communicate such as MzansiSMS project.”

Through her work, she wants disadvantaged communities to be touched by the benefits of communication and mobile technology. She believes that the mobile phone will be the key to the advancement of many people in the continent and one such initiative is the mobile learning platform called EduMandla.

“By making information and learning available on the mobile phone, many lives would be improved through education.” She lives in an apartment right in the centre of the Cape Town, which is easily accessible to all places. When not working, she visits the amazing wine routes in Cape Town and reads a lot of business and inspirational books. She cannot live without internet access of some sort, mobile phone and TelFree on her phone.

Asked if there is anything she could change about her life, she says she would decide to live with less fear, as this takes something away from us.