The story of Tshepo Letjane: As a child he was deprived of schooling - now he is building rooms for students

Loading player...
GUEST - Tshepo Letjane - Director at Shaka & Sihle Security Services



The Shaka Residence of the Tshwane University of Technology is a remarkable residence. The complex of a dozen bright buildings rises above the countless rows of houses in Soshanguve. Set among sports fields and manicured lawns, it provides students with fully furnished rooms, unlimited Wi-Fi, a fully equipped gym, and 24-hour security. But the most remarkable thing about Shaka Residence is the entrepreneur who built it. While the 700 students housed in Shaka Residence are studying towards their various degrees, Tshepo Letjane, the owner of the complex, will also be writing an exam at the end of this year - the last three subjects that he needs to complete his matric.



At 47, Tshepo employs more than 1 500 workers in a security company, a holiday-resort business, and a property development firm. Given Tshepo’s background, any one of the three businesses is an astounding achievement on its own, but the fact that he ended up providing accommodation for university students is particularly touching. Tshepo grew up without any schooling and spent stretches of his life homeless.
27 Feb 2023 11AM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

BofA Slashes SA Growth Forecast as Inflation Surges

Bank of America has cut South Africa’s 2026 GDP growth forecast to 1.3%, warning that higher oil and fertilizer prices will keep inflation above 4% for most of the year. Economist Tatonga Rusike explains
23 Apr 3PM 11 min

Understanding SA’s First Wealth Score

Franc unveils South Africa’s first-ever Wealth Score, revealing that financial habits—not income—are the strongest predictor of financial health. We unpack why SA’s national score is 45/100 and the behavior gap between knowing and doing with Dr. Thomas Brennan, founder and CEO of Franc.
23 Apr 3PM 13 min

Clicks Lifts HEPS 8% Despite Warehouse Disruptions.

Clicks delivered firm interim results with diluted HEPS up 8.1%, even as warehouse system delays cost an estimated R175 million in lost sales. CEO Bertina Engelbrecht discusses pharmacy growth, trading margins, and festive‑season competition.
23 Apr 2PM 16 min