Betting on a Darkie

Mteto Nyati knew years ago as a schoolboy in Mthatha, working behind the counter at his mother’s trading store, that he wanted to fix and build things. After completing his studies at Natal University in Mechanical Engineering, he turned down a Rhodes scholarship and headed for Johannesburg to take up a position at Afrox. He was the only black engineer and the sole advice he received from his superiors was ‘don’t mess up’. He didn’t and today is one of South Africa’s top CEOs, having steered Microsoft and MTN out of troubled times. He is currently guiding the transition of Altron from a family business, started at the height of apartheid, into a high-performing international IT company with a social conscience. This is his inspirational story about shattering stereotypes with persistent hard work and dedication.