Johannesburg - “The only horses I ever saw were the ones delivering wood in our area.”
Never in her wildest dreams did Fundi Sithebe, CEO of 4 Racing, ever imagine she would fall in love with horses and the sport of horse racing.
The former Airports Company SA (ACSA) CEO did a 360 degree turn when Covid-19 hit, and she’s never looked back. She has a pilot’s licence but these days her feet are firmly planted on terra firma, right next to her favourite animals, horses.
“Lockdown was extremely difficult. We were repatriating citizens and working 24/7. We were running abnormal operations and I decided to take a sabbatical; and it just so happened that a company was looking for a CEO who had never been in the horse racing industry and here I am,” she said.
Sithebe is the first black female CEO of any horse racing outfit in SA and says despite her lack of experience, she is always up for a challenge.
“When I decided to get my pilot’s licence, people said I couldn’t do it. I showed them that this black girl from Soweto can fly. My mission now is to spread the message that while black people have always been punters, we have never really taken the lead,” she said.
The sport of kings has been turned on its head and Sithebe’s mission is to drive a different narrative or possibly change the world.
“The sport of horse racing has not really catered for a variety of the South African population whether it is black people or young people. We want to attract a more diverse audience at the races and therefore will need to activate in a manner that is more inclusive,” she said.
Sithebe believes the race courses at Turfontein, Daveyton and Vosloorus are well-positioned to attract black people to get more involved in the sport.
“For me it’s not about owning a horse. There are so many other aspects to the sport. Schools should bring children to come see the horses. They can become vets or even jockeys. People often think that owning a horse is expensive. I am part shareholder of five horses. You don’t need to own 100% of a horse but I do believe that everybody can get involved. Also, in me, we now have black people at the helm of decision-making,” she said.
One of Sithebe’s focus areas is the welfare and treatment of grooms, and she hopes to improve the lives of retired grooms.
“Grooms are the ones who know everything about the horses. Historically they have been largely marginalised. I want to ensure they have a life when they retire. We are setting up a grooms trust to make sure that there is a life for grooms after racing,” she said.
Sithebe believes race courses like Turffontein is well-positioned to attract communities close to it such as Daveyton, Vosloorus.
On her transition from a high-flyer to running with horses, Sithebe said while the process has been challenging, it was positive.
“You have to run the race 10 times harder and faster. I am pleased to say that I work with a board and shareholders who are spearheading transformation in the industry. They have given me the freedom to affect meaningful change. The industry is dying off and we need new blood to invigorate it,” she said.
The newbie horse lover believes that exposure is the key to start change.
“I was eight years old when I took my first flight and that planted a seed in me. It was 1987 and few black people were flying at the time. But that’s how it starts,” she added.
When she’s not fixed to Channel 240, SA’s horse racing channel on DSTV, Sithebe loves to binge on Grey’s Anatomy and spend time with her favourite four-legged friend, Track Commander. .
“I am so bad that I even watch Channel 240 when I am having lunch with my daughter. When I am at the airport I still check up to see if the changes we implemented still work. I never stop working but I needed to make the change. I did not want to have a stroke. Now, I love being with the horses. It’s so therapeutic and they are so majestic, she said.
Sithebe said her mission in life is to break through the barrier and that she would like children to see things and be exposed to all manner of experiences.
“We want to educate the youth. I must admit that when I was at Acsa, it was not rocket science. Horse racing is not rocket science. We just need to take it one step at a time,” she said.
Sithebe said her drive in life comes from Romans 8:28: “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.”