The Striding Men

Hundreds of financially disadvantaged post matric students selected through academic and leadership qualities to study at Tertiary School in Business Administration (TSiBA) at no cost, will benefit further from a new bursary scheme set up by one of SA’s top entrepreneurs.

Zithulele ‘KK’ Combi, founder and chairman of forex group Master Currency and investment group Thembeka Capital, has created a special bursary fund to help students at TSiBA from his prize in the national Striding Man competition.

Combi was selected by an independent panel of judges for his courage, determination and success despite massive challenges in his life and won the Johnnie Walker’s Search for the Striding Man competition and its R1-million prize package.

Included in the prize was R500 000 with which to start a new bursary fund, a lavish party to celebrate his success with friends and family as well as a R200 000 limited edition Johnnie Walker Blue Label 1805 anniversary blend - one of only 200 bottles produced worldwide to mark the 200th birthday of founder John Walker.

But, he decided instead to hold a small intimate party to celebrate his winning and donated a further R200 000 to the bursary scheme instead.

Leigh Meinert, Managing Director of TSiBA says the bursary fund will make a huge difference in the lives of the college students, many of whom find it very hard to complete their studies because they cannot afford to live without earning while studying.

The college, which was started in Cape Town in 2004, gives school leavers a chance to jump ahead in life through its practical and recognised qualification. All the tuition fees and books are paid for by private and corporate sponsors.

Students read for a Foundation Year Certificate in Business Administration followed by an enriched Bachelor in Business Administration focused on Entrepreneurial Leadership. TSiBA specifically targets scholars and potential students that would otherwise not have access to tertiary level education, by offering successful applicants full tuition scholarships.

The institution was selected by Combi, who grew up a determined young man on the streets of Gugulethu, bent on making up for what his parents had lost through apartheid. He never had the opportunity to attend university and says he chose TSiBA because of its different approach to tertiary education and the fact that it provides opportunities for both black and coloured students.

“My wish is that this will go a long way towards building a non-racial and better skilled province in the future,” said Combi.

Combi started out as a small café owner and then built one of the first township shopping centres, later selling this to become one of the biggest SA forex dealers in the billion dollar global currency market.

A celebrated non-conformist, he proved his courage and pioneering spirit by breaking the SA banking community’s monopoly on forex dealings by setting up an independent dealership called Master Currency.

He then went on to establish a broad-based black owned and controlled investment capital group called Thembeka, which focuses on private equity investments and BEE transactions.

Combi’s determination and drive was evident even during his school days, when his admittedly autocratic leadership of the school debating team earned him the nickname “KK” after the former Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda.

Phumza Rengqe, Johnnie Walker Brand Manager and sponsor of the competition, said the brand was very happy with Mr Combi’s choice of institution.

“We salute him for selecting a business school like TSiBA which is focused on teaching entrepreneurship and leadership for emerging leaders.”

“The search for the Striding Man is one of the most pioneering and exciting initiatives the brand has ever embarked on,” she added.