Businessman Sisa Bikitsha has lashed out at corruption and fraud in government, saying the rot is destroying South Africa.
Bikitsha, who was born in Butterworth and now owns 18 KFC stores around the country, was speaking at a party held in honour of his retirement.
He told his guests – including politicians, judges and business associates – that municipalities and government departments were riddled with corruption.
He related a story of his son being asked to pay R50000 to obtain a job in government.
“He came running to me asking for that amount, but I did not give it to him, not because I did not have the money – but it cannot be used to buy a job,” said Bikitsha.
“There was a time when I was asked to pay R2-million for a tender by someone who acted as a middle-man, but I refused to be drawn into corruption,” he said.
Among those in the audience were Eastern Cape Judge President Themba Sangoni, finance MEC Sakhumzi Somyo, cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa, UDM leader General Bantu Holomisa, former auditor-general Singa Ngqwala, Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, the first black chartered accountant in South Africa, University of Fort Hare Chancellor Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile, Eastern Cape Chamber of Business president Vuyisile Ntlabathi, Mbhashe mayor Nonceba Mfecana and Mnquma mayor Baba Ganjana.
“There would not be so much corruption in this country if it was not for tenders.
“Government departments and municipalities are rotten with corruption due to tenders,” said Bikitsha.
He urged the government to invest heavily in entrepreneurship to deal with unemployment among the youth.
“The government should financially assist budding entrepreneurs to start their businesses and they will not only be contributing to the economy of the country, but creating more job opportunities. People like us will also be assisting in monitoring them,” he said.
Bikitsha advised people to be patient and to persevere, and not to expect overnight success.
“One needs to have vision and dreams, and work very hard.
“Hard work brings rewards,” the 1997 South African Entrepreneur of the Year winner said.
Bikitsha started out with a tiny spaza shop but snapped up the Mount Frere KFC franchise after the company disinvested from South Africa.
Now, 30 years later, he owns a chain of 18 KFC outlets in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu- Natal and employs 675 people in Mthatha, Mount Frere, Lusikisiki, Ngcobo, Dutywa, Butterworth and Durban.
Another KFC store is being built in Mthatha, which will bring to four the number of outlets he owns in the city and to 19 the number countrywide.
He plans to use his retirement to contribute to rural development and assist with moulding the next generation of entrepreneurs.
KFC tycoon rails at official graft
Bikitsha, who was born in Butterworth and now owns 18 KFC stores around the country, was speaking at a party held in honour of his retirement.
He told his guests – including politicians, judges and business associates – that municipalities and government departments were riddled with corruption.
He related a story of his son being asked to pay R50000 to obtain a job in government.
“He came running to me asking for that amount, but I did not give it to him, not because I did not have the money – but it cannot be used to buy a job,” said Bikitsha.
“There was a time when I was asked to pay R2-million for a tender by someone who acted as a middle-man, but I refused to be drawn into corruption,” he said.
Among those in the audience were Eastern Cape Judge President Themba Sangoni, finance MEC Sakhumzi Somyo, cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa, UDM leader General Bantu Holomisa, former auditor-general Singa Ngqwala, Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, the first black chartered accountant in South Africa, University of Fort Hare Chancellor Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile, Eastern Cape Chamber of Business president Vuyisile Ntlabathi, Mbhashe mayor Nonceba Mfecana and Mnquma mayor Baba Ganjana.
“There would not be so much corruption in this country if it was not for tenders.
“Government departments and municipalities are rotten with corruption due to tenders,” said Bikitsha.
He urged the government to invest heavily in entrepreneurship to deal with unemployment among the youth.
“The government should financially assist budding entrepreneurs to start their businesses and they will not only be contributing to the economy of the country, but creating more job opportunities. People like us will also be assisting in monitoring them,” he said.
Bikitsha advised people to be patient and to persevere, and not to expect overnight success.
“One needs to have vision and dreams, and work very hard.
“Hard work brings rewards,” the 1997 South African Entrepreneur of the Year winner said.
Bikitsha started out with a tiny spaza shop but snapped up the Mount Frere KFC franchise after the company disinvested from South Africa.
Now, 30 years later, he owns a chain of 18 KFC outlets in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu- Natal and employs 675 people in Mthatha, Mount Frere, Lusikisiki, Ngcobo, Dutywa, Butterworth and Durban.
Another KFC store is being built in Mthatha, which will bring to four the number of outlets he owns in the city and to 19 the number countrywide.
He plans to use his retirement to contribute to rural development and assist with moulding the next generation of entrepreneurs.
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