The relationship between WSU and alumni entrepreneurs continues to grow significantly and one case in point is, 0077 Multimedia, who were recently procured by the institution to provide photography services ahead of the university’s upcoming hybrid graduation ceremony.
The two entities initially collaborated in 2018 and conducted the ‘Ithuba Summit’, a platform for young entrepreneurs to learn tricks of the trade, exchange ideas, create space for collaboration, as well as interact with industry professionals who gave the youths insight into the world of business: its challenges, opportunities as well as possible success that lie within the entrepreneurial space.
“Following that seminar, we’ve maintained ties with those young people and continue to work with them to ensure their business practices are in compliance with industry norms, standards and legal frameworks,” said 0077 Multi-media co-founder, Mthuthuzeli Sotashe.
The WSU Public Relations Management graduates and founders of 0077 Multimedia, Wanda Dwenga (29) and Mthuthuzeli Sotashe (35) are currently living their dream following the humblest of beginnings, with the former being raised by a single mother with his two siblings, and the latter being raised by his uncle after being orphaned at a very young age.
The two friends are making waves in the multimedia industry and have placed youth empowerment at the forefront of their business operations and aspirations in a bid to alleviate the scourge of poverty and unemployment amongst young people.
Through their company 0077 Multimedia, which they established in 2016, the two have since created employment, business opportunities and provided training for youth to pursue their dreams within the industry.
Because of 0077 Multimedia’s ever-growing business footprint, the duo has also created real and tangible opportunities to small businesses by sub-contracting their services to work on different projects because of the increasing scale of work.
“For us the relationship between WSU and our company is way beyond business! To us it’s a social investment by the University into the community – a community it has helped build and shape by producing graduates with which it then gives business opportunities. It’s indeed a case of putting money where your mouth is and showing confidence in the very same product the university has produced,” said Dwenga.
The East London-based company counts some high-profile clients for which it has provided services, including the Berlin November event; Eastern Cape Legislature; Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency; government’s State of the Province Address; SANRAL; Transnet; and other government entities.
Some of the services 0077 Multimedia provides include photography, videography, TV and film production, content creation, adverts, creative direction and live streaming services.
By Thando Cezula