| Intro | South African businessman |
| Is | Businessperson |
| From | South Africa |
| Type | Business |
| Gender | male |
Vivian Reddy (born Vathasallum Reddy is the founder of the Edison Group. Reddy is the son of a teacher and the youngest of nine children, he was chosen as South Africa’s first representative to the Boy Scouts Jamboree in Japan. It was there that he met his inspiration Neil Armstrong.
Born in Durban, he has single-handedly created a business empire with diverse interests in energy, casinos, healthcare, financial services and property development.
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Philanthropic Work
Reddy, is involved in several South African charity initiatives such as the Orphans of AIDS Trust Fund.
He has donated substantially to various community projects such the Wingen Heights Secondary School building project and donating R6million to the Ethekwni Municipality to build a clinic. He treated the residents of Bayview, Chatsworth to a Diwali celebration in commemoration of 150 years of Indian settlement in South Africa since 1860.
Achievements
- 1992 Four Outstanding South Africans (FOYSA Award)
- 1993 International Senate Award
- 1993 Distinguished Service Award
- 1993 South African Young Achiever Award
- 1998 Rotary International – Paul Harris Community Service Award
- 2003 Global Indian Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- 2007 Voted the Most Admired Businessperson in KwaZulu-Natal
- 2009 Award for Sustainable Contribution to Engineering and Business
- 2011 Living Legend Award from City of Durban
- 2012 Invited to Bill Clinton Global Initiative
Controversy
In 2013, his company, Edison Power, was accused of corruption after being awarded a R1.25 billion tender, although this was later cleared.
Personal life
Reddy and his first wife, Mogi Naidoo, share three children, Yavini, a paediatrician, Shantan, and IT student Kuber. He is currently married to TV presenter and Scandal actress Sorisha Naidoo with whom he has a four-year-old son, Saihil and 18-month-old daughter, Kalina.
For his 60th birthday, Reddy spent R10 million on an extravangant celebration at his personal residence with 150 close family, friends, members of the South African royal family, and prominent political figures.
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