From the small town of Makapanstad in Hammanskraal to the national stage of the prestigious 40 Under 40 Awards, Ofentse Tabane is a powerful reminder that resilience, ethics and purpose-driven leadership can propel an entrepreneur far beyond their starting point.
The 40 Under 40 Awards celebrate young leaders whose work is creating measurable impact across South Africa. This year, Randcorp Investments, the company Ofentse built as an evolution of his entrepreneurial journey that began in 2013, took home the top honour in the Investment Category.
His path to founding Randcorp was shaped by lived experience. In the early years of running his first business, Ofentse was confronted by many financial and operational hurdles. These challenges aren’t unique — they affect thousands of SMEs across the country. The need to overcome these financial pressures, while keeping operations productive, pushed him to develop innovative solutions. Those solutions not only stabilised his own business, but sparked the idea of creation to assist others.
Hence the inception of Randcorp Investments, a business focused on providing financial resources, capacity and innovation to companies in the infrastructure and industrial sectors. The company’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs and play a meaningful role in shaping South Africa’s economic future.
Beyond business, Ofentse is also committed to social healing. Through ACT NOW and the Amatyma Brotherhood Circle, he stands against gender-based violence and promotes men’s mental wellness and emotional accountability.
In this Bizmag interview, Ofentse Tabane shares the lessons behind his award-winning work, his thoughts on adressing South Africa’s challenges, and his vision to transform rural communities like Makapanstad into “mini Wakandas.”
Q1: Tell us about your background, and what led you to the financial services industry.
I have extensive experience in the industrial and mining sectors, but my first business was an industrial consumables company that I launched in 2013. Through that journey, I saw how severely SMMEs were affected by financial constraints — the same issues I was struggling with.
I faced tough operational challenges, especially delayed payments and cash-flow disruptions. I realised that these issues don’t only affect my business, but productivity across entire value chains.
Out of necessity, I had to create my own solutions. Those solutions kept my business alive and revealed a bigger opportunity: to support others facing similar challenges. That’s what ultimately drew me into the financial services space.
Q2: What did you learn in those early days of business ownership?
The early stages are filled with excitement — the ‘ideation’ phase. You create strategies, build plans and assemble teams. But once you begin executing, the realities and uncertainties of entrepreneurship set in.
In my experience, the biggest hurdles were accessing new opportunities, securing adequate financial resources, and maintaining consistent performance and delivery.
You quickly learn that while you can control your inputs, you can’t always control your outcomes. That’s where being solutions-focused, persistent and resilient become essential.
Q3: What does being recognised in the 40 Under 40 Awards mean to you?
I’m truly honoured. It’s a testament to the hard work and resilience of my team and the SMMEs we’ve supported. We’re proud of the impact we’ve made, and are committed to driving further economic growth and empowerment in South Africa.
This achievement is not just a personal victory, but it is also a stand against GBV and the empowerment of women, youth and persons with disabilities.
Q4: Why is being part of ACT NOW and the Amatyma Brotherhood Circle so important to you?
The fate of our economy is inextricably linked to the healing of our nation. A nation fractured by social and economic disparities has no prospect for economic prosperity.
As a young leader in South Africa, I recognise my profound responsibility to nurture the mental wellbeing and development of our youth, who are the custodians of our nation’s future. To safeguard their dreams, we must confront the harsh realities of the challenges they face, from the scourge of poverty and inequality to the debilitating effects of mental health issues.
By acknowledging these challenges and working together to address them, we can unlock the potential of our youth and build a brighter future for our nation.
Q5: What are your top three pieces of advice for South African entrepreneurs?
- Be delusional but realistic: Dream boldly. but stay grounded in strategy.
- Don’t ever be desperate.
- Be ethical always. Your integrity is your currency.
Q6: You are clearly passionate about your hometown and upliftment of rural areas. What is your vision?
My dream is to develop Makapanstad into a Smart Rural City (SRC), basically transforming rural areas into mini Wakandas.
We are in the planning stages, but the mission is clear: To prove that innovation, technology and sustainable development aren’t limited to urban areas — they can thrive in rural communities too.
Conclusion
Ofentse Tabane is not only enabling small businesses to grow — he is reshaping what is possible for local entrepreneurship, SME empowerment and rural development.
His message to entrepreneurs is simple: Dream boldly, act ethically, and build with purpose.
