Not long ago, few people had heard of Barry Taitz. Now he’s trying to get used to being a public figure, pursued by banks wanting to lend him money, cellular networks wanting to do deals in Africa, and an ex-girlfriend who regrets letting him go.

Taitz looks a little nonplussed by the limelight generated from being named Entrepreneur of the Year in the Absa Jewish Report Achiever Awards – and having the value of his business disclosed in the process. His company is Blue Cellular, and it’s turning over close to R1 billion a year, with Taitz as the sole shareholder.