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

