F rom the air , Cape Town looks like a city the mountains once shrugged off , like a shawl from a woman ’ s shoulders .
F rom the air , Cape Town looks like a city the mountains once shrugged off , like a shawl from a woman ’ s shoulders .
Everywhere , the sprawling city ’ s streets , parks and suburbs seem to creep up and cling to the imposing figure of Table Mountain , flanked by Devil ’ s Peak and Lion ’ s Head .
Yet , at ground level , Cape Town vibrates with energy . Considered one of the most beautiful metropolises on the planet for its rare combination of mountains , beaches , forests and veld , it ’ s also home to an incredibly diverse economy , where awardwinning wines from countless vineyards have captured the world ’ s attention ,
,, and innovations from its Capricorn Science and Industrial Park have captured its imagination .
And one of the innovators creating that magic is Hannes Van Rensburg .
Not familiar with the name ? Anyone who has used a mobile phone for online banking should be . As founder of a tech company called Fundamo , Van Rensburg is a pioneer who launched the first mobile banking solution in 1999 .
As a mobile platform , Fundamo processed billions of transactions annually in 34 countries for millions of account holders . By 2011 , Van Rensburg had been named to the world ’ s Top 100 Most Influential list for communications technology , and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement by the MEF Excellence Awards for his work in growing the mobile industry globally . And with that , the world came calling . VISA purchased his company in 2011 for $ 110 million . Not content to sit on his knowledge , however , he last year published “ Cash in , Cash Out ”, a lively account of the birth and growth of Fundamo – and how a company with few resources grew to become a world leader .
These days , Van Rensburg has set down roots in Naples , having heard of its charms from a former Fundamo employee , now an executive in a global firm that settled its headquarters in the city . To say the move has been interesting is underselling it , says Van Rensburg .
With my beloved Cape Town in the rear view mirror , I am very fortunate to have the wonder that is Naples ahead of me .
For one thing , there ’ s the lifestyle that is unique to any modern city in the world .
“ I have never seen a place where you have so many choices in everything . It is overwhelming sometimes ,” he laughs , recounting his astonishment at the American love of variety .
“‘ What type of cheese , sir ? How would you like it prepared , sir ? What type of dressing ?’ Simply put , there are options everywhere .”
Then there ’ s the literal education he ’ s had to undertake . A sidewalk is a pavement and pavement is tarmac in South Africa . A fit long-distance swimmer , he also learned that his ‘ swimming costume ’ should be called a bathing suit and that football is not , in fact , his beloved rugby . ( Even football lingo had him stumped for a while : there are no prop forwards or scrums in American grid iron and a ‘ hooker ’ in rugby bears no resemblance to the American street version .) Once , when asking for directions to the men ’ s toilet in Walmart , he was brightly informed that the store did not sell them .
Making his transition easier , he says , are Naples ’ outgoing residents and the incredible natural environment .
“ Naples is a very special city . There are very few places as beautiful as this part of Florida . Everywhere I look , the streets , sidewalks , parks and public areas are
,, meticulously maintained . It must be a source of pride for people living here .”
Having grown up amidst the traditional Afrikaner Cape Dutch architectural style that dots Cape Town , Hannes says the city ’ s prestigious homes and suburbs are equally impressive .
“ The architecture and interior design I ’ ve seen rivals the best in the world . I ’ ve been blessed to have visited 64 countries and have seen many towns and cities ,” he says . “ With my beloved Cape Town in the rear view mirror , I am very fortunate to have the wonder that is Naples ahead of me . Naples is indeed special and I intend to make it my home .”
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