Young PE businessman makes it on Forbes list

Entrepreneur one of only five South Africans included for Africa

Port Elizabeth businessman Anda Maqanda was surprised when he first heard he had made it onto the Forbes list of the 30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa 2015.

“I thought the Forbes list was only for rich people, and I’m not rich,” the entrepreneur said.

Maqanda, 30, is the founder and managing director of AM Group, a group of engineering consulting companies specialising in the design and construction of electrical overhead powerlines, renewable energy and automation.

American business magazine Forbes is known for its famous lists of the richest people, top companies and top celebrities.

The spotlight recently fell on what the publication said was “Africa’s growing crop of young entrepreneurs [who] will transform the continent and rewrite its future ... Africa’s brightest and most inspiring young entrepreneurs: today’s upstarts, tomorrow’s moguls”.

-Cindy Preller