Dupree Vilakazi

Mr Vilakazi’s colourful career has spanned the world of academia, marketing, financial services, public service after which he went into business as an entrepreneur.
He is the Executive Chairman of Isidleke Investment Holdings, Executive Chairman of AN Dupree Vilakazi Investments, Executive Chairman of African Spirits Trading and Chief Operating Officer of Vela Phumelela Investments.
He started his career at the University of Natal as a Social Research Assistant in the late 1970s where he was part of a research paper titled “Migrant Labour Studies in Durban and Surrounding Areas”, published by Prof Lawrence Schlemmer.
He then held sales and marketing positions at Unilever, Ford Marketing, the South African Sugar Association and Imperial Cold Storage.
He then started a management consulting company where he completed assignments for the SA Post Office, Samancor Group, Excel Engineering and Management, national department of Public Works and National Treasury, Independent Elections Commission and Gauteng Department of Transport.
His time spent in the public service was as Special Advisor to former Ministers Jay Naidoo and Dr Pallo Jordan, who were both Ministers of Communication at different times.
Mr Vilakazi holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Africa and a Master of Arts from the University of Zululand; his dissertation explored Black entrepreneurial development in tourism in the Greater eThekwini.
He is currently registered for doctoral studies at the University of Pretoria.