Phumudzo Thenga Early Life and Education
In South Africa’s Limpopo Province’s Vhembe District, Phumudzo Thenga was born. She was raised in the rural community of Dzata.
Thenga’s parents emphasized the value of education to her, and she attended a nearby elementary school before relocating to Johannesburg to finish high school.
Thenga’s excellence in school got her a scholarship to study Chemical Engineering at the University of Johannesburg.
Phumudzo Thenga Wikipedia
- Full Name: Phumudzo Thenga
- Nationality: South African
- Profession: Entrepreneur, Businesswoman
- Notable Companies: Lwendo Minerals, Lwendo Resources, 21st Century Media
- Industries: Mining, Energy, Logistics, Media
- Philanthropy: Supports education, healthcare accessibility, and small business development
- Controversy: Formerly associated with 21st Century Media, which was linked to fraud by Thabo Bester
- Marital Status: Reported to be married to a senior official in the Ekurhuleni Municipality
- Net Worth: Not publicly disclosed
- Date of Birth: Not publicly available
Phumudzo Thenga Biography
Phumudzo Thenga is a determined and successful businesswoman who has made a name for herself in the mining, energy, and logistics industries.
Despite facing challenges and public scrutiny, she remains focused on her career and continues to inspire many with her entrepreneurial journey and philanthropic efforts.
Her story is one of resilience, ambition, and perseverance.
Phumudzo Thenga Career Trajectory
Thenga started her work as a graduate engineer with Sasol, one of South Africa’s biggest petrochemical firms, after graduation.
Thenga participated in several initiatives at Sasol aimed at minimizing the business’ carbon footprint and advancing sustainable business practices.
Thenga began working for Eskom, the biggest electricity provider in South Africa, in 2011. She advanced swiftly and was given the position of Divisional Executive for Group Capital in 2016.
Thenga was in charge of overseeing Eskom’s capital projects, which included building new power plants and maintaining existing ones.
Thenga received recognition for her work at Eskom from some international organizations. She was recognized by CEO Global in 2018 as one of the Most Influential Women in Business and Government in Africa.
The same year, Thenga was included in the Forbes Africa Under 30 list.
Phumudzo Thenga Philanthropic Endeavors
Thenga has excelled professionally and is dedicated to giving back to her community. She founded the Phumudzo Thenga Foundation, which aims to advance entrepreneurship and education in rural areas.
The charity supports local small companies and awards scholarships to kids from underprivileged families.
Thenga also serves as a role model for young women in the engineering industry. Speaking on various occasions, she has inspired young girls to seek jobs in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines.
Phumudzo Thenga personal life
Phumudzo Thenga is a South African entrepreneur known for her involvement in various business ventures.
She is married to a senior official in the Ekurhuleni Municipality, who has been associated with her business endeavors. Notably, he has served as a director in companies such as Lovebirds Transport and Lwendo Foods.
Thenga’s professional journey includes leadership roles in the Lovebirds group of companies, reflecting her entrepreneurial spirit.
Beyond her business activities, Thenga has been linked to Thabo Bester, a convicted criminal who managed to run a media company from prison.
Thenga was listed as the sole director of 21st Century Media, a company implicated in fraudulent activities orchestrated by Bester.
She later stated that she was deceived by Bester, who operated under the alias “Tom Motsepe,” and that she did not know his true identity during their professional association.
Despite these controversies, Thenga continues to be an active figure in South Africa’s business community, particularly in sectors such as media, mining, energy, and logistics
Phumudzo Thenga trivia
Phumudzo Thenga is a South African entrepreneur known for her involvement in various business ventures, notably as the sole director of 21st Century Media. Here are some lesser-known facts about her:
Association with Thabo Bester: Thenga was introduced to Thabo Bester, who posed as “Tom Motsepe,” claiming to be a relative of billionaire Patrice Motsepe. Under this guise, Bester orchestrated fraudulent activities through 21st Century Media, unbeknownst to Thenga.
Victim of Deception: Upon discovering Bester’s true identity and his incarceration, Thenga expressed that she had been deceived and was also a victim of his scams. She stated that she did not know about his criminal activities during their professional association.
Deregistration of Companies: Following the revelation of Bester’s deceit, Thenga took steps to distance herself from the fraudulent activities by deregistering all related companies, including 21st Century Media.
NOTE: These insights shed light on Thenga’s professional challenges and her efforts to rectify the situation upon uncovering the truth.
Phumudzo Thenga’s net worth
As of now, there is no publicly available information regarding Phumudzo Thenga’s net worth. Her financial details have not been disclosed in public records or reputable sources.
Thenga is a South African entrepreneur known for founding Lwendo Minerals in 2018 and Lwendo Resources in 2016, companies specializing in fuel supply, logistics, mining, and corporate resourcing.
She has also been associated with 21st Century Media, where she served as the sole director during a period when the company was implicated in fraudulent activities orchestrated by Thabo Bester.
Despite her involvement in these ventures, specific information about her wealth remains undisclosed
Phumudzo Thenga legacy
Phumudzo Thenga is a South African entrepreneur known for her involvement in various business ventures, including 21st Century Media and Lwendo Minerals.
Her career has been marked by both achievements and challenges, particularly her association with convicted criminal Thabo Bester.
Professional Achievements:
Thenga founded Lwendo Minerals, a company specializing in fuel supply, logistics, mining, and corporate resourcing.
Her leadership in this sector highlights her commitment to contributing to South Africa’s economic development.
Association with Thabo Bester:
In 2017, Thenga became the sole director of 21st Century Media, a company later revealed to be part of fraudulent activities orchestrated by Thabo Bester, who was operating under the alias “Tom Motsepe.”
Upon discovering Bester’s true identity and his criminal background in 2018, Thenga distanced herself from him and deregistered the company.
She has publicly stated that she was unaware of his true identity during their association and considers herself a victim of his deception.
Philanthropic Efforts:
Thenga has been involved in initiatives aimed at distributing antiretroviral drugs to disadvantaged communities, reflecting her dedication to healthcare accessibility.
Additionally, she has focused on promoting education and entrepreneurship in rural areas, supporting local small businesses, and providing scholarships to underprivileged students.
Legacy:
Thenga’s legacy is characterized by resilience and a commitment to community development.
Despite facing significant challenges, including being deceived by a convicted criminal, she has continued to focus on her entrepreneurial ventures and philanthropic efforts.
Her story serves as an example of perseverance in the face of adversity and underscores the importance of integrity in business practices.
FAQs
Who is Phumudzo Thenga?
Phumudzo Thenga is a South African businesswoman and entrepreneur, known for founding Lwendo Minerals (Pty) Ltd in 2018 and Lwendo Resources (Pty) Ltd in 2016.
Her companies specialize in fuel supply, logistics, mining, and corporate resourcing.
What is her educational background?
Thenga was born in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa, and raised in the rural community of Dzata.
She attended local schools before moving to Johannesburg to complete her high school education.
Her academic excellence earned her a scholarship to study Chemical Engineering at the University of Johannesburg.
What was her career path before founding her companies?
After graduating, Thenga began her career as a graduate engineer with Sasol, one of South Africa’s largest petrochemical companies.
She later joined Eskom, the country’s primary electricity supplier, where she rose to the position of Divisional Executive for Group Capital in 2016.
In this role, she oversaw capital projects, including the construction and maintenance of power plants.
Has she received any notable recognitions?
Yes, in 2018, Thenga was recognized by CEO Global as one of the Most Influential Women in Business and Government in Africa.
The same year, she was listed in Forbes Africa’s Under 30 list, highlighting her significant contributions to the industry.
What philanthropic efforts is she involved in?
Thenga established the Phumudzo Thenga Foundation, which focuses on promoting education and entrepreneurship in rural areas.
The foundation provides scholarships to underprivileged students and supports local small businesses.
Additionally, she serves as a role model for young women in engineering, encouraging them to pursue careers in STEM fields.
What is her connection to 21st Century Media and Thabo Bester?
In 2017, Thenga was approached by an individual named “Tom Motsepe,” who proposed creating 21st Century Media.
Unbeknownst to her at the time, “Motsepe” was an alias used by convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester.
Thenga became the sole director of the company but later discovered Bester’s true identity and his fraudulent activities.
She has since distanced herself from Bester and the company, stating that she was also a victim of his scams.
How has she responded to the controversy surrounding 21st Century Media?
Thenga has publicly stated that she had no involvement with Bester after 2018 and was unaware of his criminal background during their business interactions.
She has taken legal steps to clear her name and emphasizes that she was deceived by Bester, just like many others.
Conclusion
Phumudzo Thenga is a successful entrepreneur and business leader known for her contributions to mining, energy, and logistics in South Africa.
Despite facing challenges, including her past connection to Thabo Bester, she has remained focused on her businesses and philanthropic efforts.
Her journey is a testament to resilience, hard work, and determination, making her an inspiration to many aspiring entrepreneurs.
