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The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC) is sad to announce the sudden passing of NAFCOC Youth Chamber President, Chuma Shweni, who died in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening. He was 33 years old.

Mr Shweni was a legendary businessman, activist and entrepreuner who had served in NAFCOC structures for many years. At the time of his death he was completing his second term as the president of the NAFCOC Youth Chamber.

 He began his businesses at the age of 18 years and had a stake in transport, mining and construction.

Mr Shweni’s peers say his life and achievements as a leader and businessman are a reminder that it's possible to build enduring companies and still retain your sense of self-lessness, self-confidences and a sense of adventure and ambition.

At the time of his death he was leading and spearheading a number of programmes, such as getting young people to become suppliers as part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Black Business Development Programmes.

Mr Shweni was also leading a campaign to have the NAFCOC Youth Chamber to join forces with Progressive Youth Association (PYA) and lead the campaign to have young people represented in funding institutions such as the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA), the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Ltd (IDC) and other developmental finance agencies instead of restricting themselves to the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).

Mr Sabelo Macingwane, the National President of NAFCOC, said the federation has been dealt a serious blow as Mr Shweni had brought some vibrancy and energy into the youth chamber.

“He was one of the young, successful business people who were serving in the youth chamber but who were showing potential of leading the mother body into the future.

“During his term he has always voiced his concerns about the continued difficulty of young black business in accessing finance. We are saddened by his passing and we are with his family, his friends and all the young people he inspired and mentored. Lala Ngoxolo, Madiba” Macingwane said.

Sbu Mavundla, National Treasurer of the NAFCOC Youth Chamber, said Mr Shweni’s passing will leave a big void and NAFCOC and other formations will be poorer without him.

“I have known him since we were both elected to serve together at NAFCOC Youth Chamber. Here was a young man who did not want to play small. He wanted young people, especially black young people, to take charge of their future by getting into all the sectors of the economy. He was a beacon of hope to many young people who looked up to him,” Mavundla said.

Issued by NAFCOC