South African student Lesley Ncube is the founder of Thatha, a tech company incorporated and operating from the KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa. As one who studied in the discipline of computer science, Lesley solely designs the software and hardware of his smartphone which he calls Shumi.

The company name Thatha is deived from Zulu language, which means “take.”

He started the company as an online shop two years ago in South Africa. Soon after the launch of Thatha, Lesley had bigger ideas that included producing affordable devices for Africans by Africans.

“With Thatha, I decided to go the traditional route by starting with developing hardware, then moving on to software. That’s when we developed the Shumi smartphone,” Lesley says.

“We manufacture all our products from the onset, including the software. This is also why we decided on a dot za [.co.za] domain so that people know that it was a local product and locally made”, he added.

Growing up, the young entrepreneur had two passions, they were playing football and technology.

Lesley says that he quit playing football for good when he got into high school and rediscovered his love for tech after an article piece about how Bill Gates started Microsoft at a young age.

“I was 14 when I fell in love with tech. I realised that this is what I should do to work towards making a change, and the impact I want in the tech industry for Africa.”

Lesley produced his first smartphone in 2018, which is now referred to as he Shumi smartphone.

The phone currently retails for 4000 South African Rands (236 US Dollars) and has thus far been well-received.

He says that “there’s support for the brand and what it stands for. I hope we can achieve something as big as Google or Microsoft right here in South Africa.”

The 26-year-old is currently at the final stages of his postgraduate studies and an advanced diploma in computer science. “It’s important to not only focus on business,” he says. “I encourage people to keep on learning and educating themselves. I strongly believe that the more one learns, the more one can grow.”

Lesley says he believes in starting small and growing to eventually becoming global. “Go for your dream and you’ll realise once you start, everything will fall into place. Start small and build from there,” he says.

“Africa has a lot to offer, we have a very skilled and capable workforce and it’s us as the youth that has potential to attract investors to our continent and position us as a global force,” he adds. “A lot can come from here.”

Source; https://africaatrandom.com/south-african-student-launches-his-own-smartphone-company/

I've seen him on tv.

Nice one

My naija blodas are doing better than this

lovely, this is really fantastic from him, i just hope the phones produced in SA will be affordable and durable like the Tecno phones we are buying here

sureinfo:
lovely, this is really fantastic from him, i just hope the phones produced in SA will be affordable and durable like the Tecno phones we are buying here

I'll pick Tecno over it.
At least a Tecno device that sells for $210 will bebbettet than his $210 phone.

I see another Jeff Bezoz in the making.

may God bless all our legit hustle

If it was Nigeria and Lagos specifically...by the time sanwo-olu and buhari tax him,he would abandon the company and run to computer village

Ayo2004:
If it was Nigeria and Lagos specifically...by the time sanwo-olu and buhari tax him,he would abandon the company and run to computer village

I know you are joking, but if we all have this mentality we'll not develop.

jieta:
I know you are joking, but if we all have this mentality we'll not develop.

You sound like a smart person unlike some that won't notice a sense of humor...but the truth is the Nigerian government are good at killing dreams,if Bill Gates,Bezos and co.
were from Nigeria, they won't likely reach where they are only with talent without money or connections,the Nigerian government give no damn about you,thats y the wealthy ones like dangote,otedola nd alakija either had money or connections

Where are the phones?

Gre8...

More grease to his elbow

Who remembers those paper handset we used to make while we were still small

longetivity:
My naija blodas are doing better than this

Nobody ask you that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, Can't you just be Happy for a fellow black man For once??

This is the reason why White people will always have an edge over the black Race forever!!

well you could say that, also with TECNO you have the luxury of accessibility to spare parts and after sales services.

chariisGRACE:


I'll pick Tecno over it.
At least a Tecno device that sells for $210 will bebbettet than his $210 phone.