Fortunate holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science degree, Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Auditing and Masters in Business Administration from the University of South Africa – School of Business Leadership. She has gained vast experience in internal controls, risk, auditing, tax and compliance from Pfizer Laboratories, Alexander Forbes, South African Airways, City Power, South African Revenue Service and The Office of the Auditor-General. In her recent role at Pfizer, she provided support to develop and maintain a strong and practical risk awareness, compliance and control culture and environment; provided in-market support, guidance, and consultation to help drive efficiencies; proactively identified emerging risks and strategies and built strong relationship with key stakeholders.

She currently serves as a member of the Audit Committee at The Department of Arts and Culture, Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa and Driver’s License Card Account – Department of Transport. She is also a member of The Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa (IIASA). Fortunate is the Chairwoman for both Isipho and Kholeka Engineering, she joined Smith Capital as the CEO effective 2 November 2015.

Sipho holds a master’s degree in business leadership (MBL) from the University of South Africa. He also holds an Honours BCom from the University of South Africa. He pursued a PhD in Entrepreneurship with the University of Pretoria and his thesis was on the Mentorship and Entrepreneurial Activity, which is currently on hold. He started his working career as a teacher at Vukuzakhe High School in Umlazi from 1992 to 1994 where he tough Accounting and Business Economics to Std 8-10 students. In 1995 he left the teaching profession to join the commercial industry and career with Sasol in Secunda, In 1996 he joined Iscor in Pretoria, Transnet (Promat) in 1998 and the FirstRand Group in 2001. Within these organizations, he moved from a buyer position, to strategic sourcing, management, senior management and executive management positions and worked along leading consulting firms including McKinsey and Gemini Consultants.

He has influenced thought processes within the iSiphoCapital proposition having gained experience in Supply Chain Management, SMME Funding, Emerging Contractor Finance, Structured Finance and BEE Funding having played executive roles in financial, mining, parastatal and government sectors. He spent 7 years in Leveraged Finance with FNB where he gained immense experience in the field of deal sourcing, structuring, negotiation and presenting credit papers to various committees within the Bank. His predominant focus was on acquisition finance, management buying/out, balance sheet restructuring, startup finance and franchise finance with senior and mezzanine debt finance as funding instruments.

In 2013 Sipho left the Bank to pursue business interest culminating to the acquisition of Kholeka Engineering (Pty) Ltd in 2015 where he currently serve as the Managing Director. He is consolidating his experience to grow iSipho and Kholeka through various organic and acquisition growth strategies with a view of creating sustainable businesses with sustainable free cash flow as the main strategic thrust. He played a pivotal role in driving the management buyout of Smith Capital Equipment (Pty) Ltd in 2015 where he serves as the Chairman.

Kresan Reddy has studied towards his BCom Financial Management through Unisa. He has completed his Management Development Program with the University of Stellenbosch as well as completed his ISO 9001:2015 Auditing of QMS through SABS. He has gained valuable experience in auditing, application of GAAP, compliance of internal controls, cost accounting as well as adapting a corporate structure within the Isipho Capital Group. He has a passion for business and therefore plays an operational and strategic role within the business. His skills set, extends to the crucial attention to detail components, Negotiating and Deal-Making, Cash Flow Management and Project Planning.

In 2014 Kresan was employed at Kholeka Engineering (Pty) Ltd as Finance Manager, of which he currently holds the position, was able to steer the company to steady ground through strict cost-containment controls, therefore restoring profitability and reputational value to its Customers and Suppliers. Kresan joined Mr Coach (Pty) Ltd as Finance Manager effective 1 June 2016.

Isipho Capital Holdings (Pty) Ltd ("Isipho") announced the acquisition of 80% shares in Mr Coach (Pty) Ltd ("MrCoach"), a local company specializing in Ambulance, Mobile Clinics, Hearses, Bus and other conversions. With 7 year history under the leadership of the founder Ms Hazel Angus, Mr Coach has created in niche in this sector historically in the KZN Province.

This acquisition affords Isipho to offer a basket of solutions in the Automotive Sector. It compliments the solutions offered by Kholeka Engineering and brings about additional value to Smith Capital who are sister companies in the group.

Post conclusion of this transaction, Mr Coach will attain a level 2 Majority Women Owned BBBEE company with more than 51% Women Black Ownership.

Isipho Capital Holdings (Pty) Ltd ("Isipho") announced the acquisition of majority stake in Smith Capital Equipment (Pty) Ltd ("Smith"), a local manufacturer of Aerial Platforms (Cherry Pickers) and Drilling Rigs. With 42 years’ experience, Smith is a household name in the aerial platform market through its own brand, Superlift™ as well as its Hotline branded drilling rigs. The company also imports and installs premium brands of Aerial Platforms and Truck Mounted Cranes from leading multinational companies around the globe including but not limited to Terex, Oil&Steel, PM, Bronto Skylift, etc.

The transaction was funded by the National Empowerment Fund and has been earmarked as one of the 100 Black Industrialists, a DTI initiative to create increased black ownership of local manufacturing capabilities. It has one of the most critical elements of broad based empowerment, as 35% of Smith’s shareholding will be in the hands of employees and management of Smith with Isipho holding the remaining 65%. Smith is a level 2 BBBEE company with more than 51% Women Black Ownership and operational involvement. Ms Fortunate Mdanda has been appointed as the CEO of Smith and one of her main mandates is to ensure participation of black female engineers in Smith’s value chain. “I will be driving the repositioning Smith in the marketplace with its stakeholders who include amongst others SOE’s, FML’s, OEM’s, Dealerships, Government, Truck Body Builders, Mining, Construction and End Users; says Ms Fortunate Mdanda.

The Germiston head-quartered company has a South African footprint through its regional representation of own and outsourced service centres and seeks to grow in Africa by exporting proudly South African products and also focusing on increasing its basket of locally and imported products to its customers. The company boasts a highly experienced engineering and management staff compliment of 80 employees and has the largest number of LMI’s directly employed by a single company in South Africa.

About Isipho Capital Holdings.

Isipho Capital is a small private equity company which earlier this year, acquired 100% of Kholeka Engineering (Pty) Ltd (“Kholeka”), a truck body and trailer manufacturing business based in KZN. This acquisition of Smith will allow the two businesses to extract synergies and be in a position to offer a one stop solution to the marketplace whilst maintaining their independent identities and market positioning. “We are excited about the acquisition as it further entrenches our support and commitment to the manufacturing sector”, said Sipho Mdanda, CEO of Isipho Capital Holdings.

Johannesburg 3 March 2015 – Isipho Capital Holdings (Pty) Ltd ("Isipho") announced the acquisition of 100% shares in Kholeka Engineering (Pty) Ltd ("Kholeka"), a local company specializing in manufacture of truck bodies, trailers, people carriers, water tankers, etc from the MacDonald Group. This transaction is a significant one as it positions Isipho in the manufacturing sector which has a huge potential in terms of job creation and true value add.

It is also a significant transaction in that Isipho want to use this as the platform to grow through organic and acquisition in the manufacturing and in the automotive sector in particular.