Meet Yonwaba Mabindisa (25), from Thembisa in Kempton Park, a student in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). In March 2025, he is a co-found of Denton Vision Art Mining, an innovative business venture that aims to create a digital platform connecting mine owners with buyers across Africa and international markets.
His time at DUT exposed him to diverse people, perspectives, and experiences that played a significant role in shaping his understanding of human behaviour while strengthening his communication skills, which later became valuable assets in his entrepreneurial journey.
At DUT, he engaged with students from different backgrounds and gained insight into how behaviour and decision-making differ from person to person. This experience strengthened his interpersonal skills and adaptability when engaging with clients and business partners. DUT also contributed significantly to his personal growth through programmes such as Innobiz, which helped shape his entrepreneurial mindset.
One of the most impactful experiences of his university journey was participating in the DUT Innobiz Hackathon. The high-pressure environment helped him develop discipline, focus, and the ability to make decisions under pressure, skills that continue to support him in his business today.
“DUT Innobiz significantly contributed to the development of my professional work ethic and discipline. The hackathon gave me valuable experience in handling pressure, which I still apply in my business today,” he said.
Inspired by a close friend and business partner already involved in the mining industry, Yonwaba identified a gap in the sector that required a more accessible and centralised platform. This led to the establishment of Denton Vision Art Mining, a digital mining marketplace that connects mine owners with buyers across Africa and beyond.
“The platform enables users to buy and sell mines and minerals while ensuring credibility through professional geologists who verify all listed mines and resources. In addition to operating as a marketplace, the company also runs its own mining operations,” Yonwaba added.
He explained that building the business while studying came with significant challenges, noting that financial constraints required the founders to rely on personal savings to sustain operations. He added that marketing the platform was also difficult due to limited resources, which made large-scale advertising campaigns impossible. As a result, growth was largely driven by word-of-mouth within the mining industry and consistent social media engagement, which eventually generated strong interest.
He further noted that DUT played an important role in shaping the direction of the business through engagement with lecturers and academic staff. Early guidance encouraged the expansion of the platform beyond South Africa to include the broader African market and prepare for global reach, which influenced the company’s long-term strategy.
Yonwaba said a major milestone in Denton Vision Art Mining’s entrepreneurial journey came when the company secured a deal to supply thousands of tons of lithium per month to an international automotive manufacturer producing both electric and combustion vehicles. He added that the company also supplies manganese and coal to one of Africa’s top ten companies by market capitalisation, describing these partnerships as significant achievements in the company’s growth and expansion.
When asked about the DUT Living Values and principles he most resonates with, he highlighted commitment as the most influential value. He explained that it is reflected in daily consistency, resilience in the face of challenges, and dedication to building trust with clients and partners. He added that this sense of commitment has played a key role in establishing credibility and sustaining business growth.
His vision is to position Denton Vision Art Mining as the world’s largest digital mining marketplace within the next five years, expanding into global markets including London and New York. The long-term goal also includes creating employment opportunities across Africa and growing into a leading global mining enterprise.
“Your mind is a magnet for all the things you want to achieve in life, so keep those thoughts positive to get ahead. As long as you and your loved ones are healthy, there is no such thing as a truly bad day, only an inconvenient one. Life will eventually present difficult moments, but it is how we respond that defines us,” he concluded.
Visit the website: https://dentonvisionmining.co.za/
Pictured: The co-founder of Denton Vision Art Mining, Mr Yonwaba Mabindisa.
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