Thriving in Business in Ballito

We got to sit down with a few men in the business scene on our Ballito coast and learned a bit more about their businesses from their humble beginnings to a passion that continues to help them succeed.

Llewellyn Cronje

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

Growing up in Ballito, I attended Umhlali Primary before boarding school in Pietermaritzburg. Studying at Natal University set the stage for my journey. Two decades in Johannesburg taught me invaluable lessons in luxury housing design, which I brought back to Ballito in the early 2000s when I launchedCA Architects. Today, we’re thriving in the North Coast market with our expertise and Revit Autodesk software at the ready.

What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture? How have you evolved throughout your professional journey?

My journey into architecture began with a technical matric in carpentry. Thanks to the guidance of a wise school career advisor and the revelation of the architectural realm during my third year of studies, I found my calling in problem-solving through design.

Transitioning to Ballito, our small practice has proven efficient even in handling large-scale projects, thanks to our evolved technological prowess. Ballito’s metamorphosis from a quaint holiday town into a bustling commercial hub has reshaped our architectural landscape.

How do you integrate the natural environment into your designs?

Creating spaces with a seamless flow, abundant natural light, captivating views and a seamless transition to outdoor environments is a priority. The importance of good views, sunlight, fresh air and open spaces cannot be overstated. The uplifting effect of the morning sun, the warmth of northern exposure, the need for controlled western sunlight and the soft light of the southern aspect are all considerations we take seriously.

We’ve embraced the undeniable allure of nature by integrating atriums and fostering open relationships with outdoor spaces, which enhances sustainability and promotes well-being in our tropical climate.

Can you describe a project where you intentionally pushed boundaries or defied expectations?

The Valley of the Pools entrance features and first-floor restaurant deck come to mind. We included elements in the landscape to create a spatial and structurally defined series of pavilions to define arrival, entrance, entertainment deck and pools. Using alternate materials including steel, concrete, timber and polycarbonate in a corrosive environment was challenging. To push boundaries and defy expectations demands courage of conviction, faultless resolution and a “very thick skin”.

Jannie Brown

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your business.

My journey in the fibre communications infrastructure industry began in 2014, constructing networks for various providers. In 2020, I took the leap and establishedIntrasurf ISP, focusing on personalised fibre internet infrastructure builds for communities and estates. It’s been rewarding to engage with end-users, providing attentive service from connection to completion. As both the infrastructure owner and ISP, this hands-on approach offers valuable insights into network performance and user needs. We collaborate closely with developers, offering turnkey solutions for new projects, and work alongside HOAs to streamline internal communications, including security, access control and telephone systems.

What broadband fibre technology advancements are you most excited about? How do you see them shaping the industry?

Home and business daily internet usage has increased dramatically. Home service speeds escalate beyond one gigabit symmetrical and, as usage intensifies, I believe the impact will be on greater speed/package offerings and planning for greater network capacity. As an internet service provider, I focus on network enhancements to prevent potential bottlenecks and capacity issues.

How do you tackle cybersecurity challenges to protect user data and privacy?

With the rise of artificial intelligence, the software itself is changing. The increasing use of AI is also making software potentially vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Intrasurf ISP has cybersecurity systems in place and alerts for breaches of security. We utilise certified companies with tried and tested banking software to safeguard customers’ personal data, and we do not share data across platforms.

What are the major future opportunities and challenges facing the broadband fibre business, and how do you plan to address them?

South Africa’s biggest challenge is load shedding and the disruption it is causing businesses (including fibre network operators) and home users. Existing fibre network operator redundancy solutions are increasingly taking strain from load shedding. In these situations, batteries used in UPS systems do not have enough time to recharge before the next round of load shedding. This impacts home and business users’ ability to utilise their fibre network. Intrasurf ISP has employed multiple redundancy links as a fail-safe.

CA Architects: Tel: 032 946 3830

                        Email: reception@caarchitects.co.za

                        Address: 7 Garlicke Drive, Warne House, Ballito

Intrasurf: Tel: 073 312 0277

               Email:info@intrasurf.co.za

               Website: http://www.intrasurf.co.za