Two times richer than Vivian Reddy, billionaire Robert Gumede’s net worth stuns Mzansi

Two times richer than Vivian Reddy, billionaire Robert Gumede’s net worth stuns Mzansi

Robert Gumede is a celebrated South African business mogul. However, he also doubles as a politician, and in recent years, he has made it known that he is an ANC darling. Despite all being, he is younger than we thought. At the age of 68 years, he is fit as a fiddle.

Gumede is the founder of the IT firm Gijima Technologies and its holding company, Gijima group. In recent years, his business empire has wowed Mzansi, leaving many wondering about his net worth. No doubt his thrust into the limelight came when he left the Ministry of Justice job due to his participation in the apartheid.

In the wake of his exit, he established Gijima Electronic and Security Systems. After moving to Johanessburg, he registered several companies under Gijima. His rod of luck came when he started securing tenders from the ruling government.

In 1997 he provided the Department of Justice and Correctional Services and Department of Home Affairs his services after securing a tender from the government. His IT company went on to rebrand to Gijima Afrika Smart Technologies.

Two times richer than Vivian Reddy, billionaire Robert Gumede’s net worth stuns Mzansi

GijimaAST went on to win additional tenders from government-owned telecommunications like Telkom after becoming its sole manufacturer of sim cards. In recent years he has been securing the bag from tenders just like before.

As of 2022, he has an estimated net worth of R2.8 billion. Unconfirmed reports show he is worth R3 billion since he has several other assets not registered in his name.

In 2011 GijimaAST settled out of court with the Department of Home Affairs after a dispute over a tender project worth R2.3 billion due to escalating project costs. In 2014 the Special Investigating Unit of South Africa concluded that an R360 million tender by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and the State Information Technology Agency awarded to GijimaAST was irregular.

The Sunday Independent newspaper reports about the alleged non-delivery of a government tender by GijimaAST resulted in Gumede threatening to file an R1 billion defamation lawsuit against the publication.

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