How one man built a nationwide IT company from scratch

SHAIR Sidique, 61, knows what it means to start over.

- STAFF REPORTER

Born in Mozambique, Sidique arrived in SA in 1984, carrying little more than hope and determination.“I worked in a fruit market for the first two years while studying in the evenings and learning English,” he recalls. “It was tough, but I knew I had to keep learning.”

Sidique's early life in SA was a mix of hard work and ambition. By 1987, he had landed his first IT job as a programmer and database administrator for a retail chain. Over the years, he worked his way up into management roles, overseeing store automation systems, national IT infrastructure, and large teams across the country. But even with success in the corporate world, Sidique felt something was missing. He had always dreamed of running his own business. He tried a few ventures before, but none worked out. “I realised change was needed, and I wanted to build something that could last,” he says.

In July 2011, he started CompuDynamics. The early years were not easy. “The first five years were very challenging for the business, my family, and myself,” Sidique admits. “Managing everything with no finances often made me doubt my decision, because I worried about the impact on those around me.”