Businessman and co-founder of 13Sixty Lifestyle on the highs and lows of running a well-oiled entertainment business.
Mpumalanga businessman and owner of 13Sixty Lifestyle in Acornhoek, Rodney Mabunda (37) says entrepreneurship runs in his blood and combine that with a passion for show business and a love for good food, and you have a winning recipe. Mabunda is the co-owner of 13Sixty Lifestyle in Acornhoek, Mpumalanga and this year they celebrate three years of success and job creation.
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He grew up in a poor household where his parents never held any permanent jobs but managed to put food on the table. However, he has always been passionate about education. Mabunda holds a Btech in Tourism Management and a postgraduate diploma in Public Admin. He is also an IDP officer in the local Municipality. The nightlife and tourism business has always been in the pipeline. His business, 13Sixty Lifestyle was inspired by the likes of likes Kwa Max Lifestyle in Durban and, Makubenjalo in Johannesburg. He also wanted to create job opportunities for his community, as he is passionate about the township economy and growth.
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In 2021, together with his brother Marvin and sister Fiona, they rented a small pub together which they used to host artists. That is where the seed was planted. “We got a bit of experience from that time on how to run that sort of business, and we did well. The owner of the pub saw that we were getting good numbers, then he decided to raise the rent. This caused disagreement and we decided to move.” Luckily their father had a stand on the Acornhoek main road. “He had a small car wash and food outlet. I have also been selling ice from the same place since 2016. We then decided to build the business there,” Mabunda says.
Mabunda and his siblings started the 13Sixty Lifestyle business from his low savings He and his brother dug into their savings accounts and he sold his Golf 7 GTI to finance the building and got support while also family and friends supported them where they could. “When we started, we had used the savings from the tavern that we rented first. We’ve travelled around the country and in every township or kasi there is a good shisanyama and pub, and that was lacking in our town of Acornhoek,” Mabunda says. His bother Marvin has a passion for food and therefore focuses mostly on the shisanyama and restaurant. Their sister Fiona, manages the day-to-day running of the establishment. They are also landlords of the Orpengate Sleepover Motel. “Acornhoek has always had that vibe but most of the places that were opened couldn’t match the vibe,” Mabunda says.
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They now run a successful 13Sixty Lifestyle where they host artists from across the country, serving delicious shiyanyama and traditional food. “We are known for bringing all the best stars in the county to over venue. Our patrons always feel safe and protected at all times. We are a tourist attraction and a place visitors love to frequent,” Mabunda says.
The husband and father of three says it brings him joy to see his 20 or so employees being able to feed their families. “Seeing the faces of employees come month end pleases us so much as we see the difference we’ve made. Bringing something different to our town and seeing locals and people from far appreciate the play is a fulfilling feeling. The business is still in its toddler stage, but we are seeing positive strides towards our vision.”
He says the competitive nature of his business has kept him on his toes. “Not everyone is happy with what we are doing, and many negative things are spread about our business, but we always keep our heads up. The funding issue remains a big challenge as there are many things that we want to do to take our business to the next level. However, the highlight of running 13Sixty Lifestyle was hosting the Savanna Comedy Night in December 2023, as well as the Bernini-inspired event on 31 August and 01 September so we hope that will be on that level too.
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