UIGC’S GROWTH

Dr John Mudau says that when he joined UIGC seven years ago, there were only three units, which were not even registered as Propriety limited ((Pty) Ltd) companies. “We had the training, consulting, and an editing and proofreading unit.

“Our commercial enterprises include UIGC Connect, UIGC Security that deals with the provision of guards, and UIGC Gardening, which offers landscaping and cleaning services. We also run a commercial farm, called the Barotta Farm, which produces bananas and macadamia nuts, among others. We will also add two other critical portfolios: a property portfolio, where we plan to build a big conference facility in Makhado, and a financial services business that will see us provide members with short-term insurance, including life and funeral cover, and motor car insurance.

“The growth of UIGC has been phenomenal. Perhaps the extent of the growth is greater than what was expected when the company started. I think that when the company was conceptualised in 2010, the idea was to develop a training entity that would provide online learning programmes for academic credits lower than 120,” says Mudau. “When I joined, the company had only three staff members; I was the third staff member. Now in my second term, we have almost 500 staff members, with an executive team of six. We have registered six entities with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission as (Pty) Ltd companies owned by the UIGC holding company.”