The leading light in South African Optometry
Lathi Tha’ translates as, “Then there is light” and is taken from an Nguni proverb about the emerging of the sun. For the many South Africans who have been excluded or marginalized within the professional field, and for the thousands more patients who have been denied access to proper optometric care, Lathi Tha’ shines as a beacon of hope.
VISION
To provide access to basic quality eye care for all our communities.
To build a strong brand that will be seen as a leader in the provision of high quality eyecare.
MISSION
To create a vehicle to deliver first world eyecare to both rural and urban communities.
To improve productivity and safety amongst employees by ensuring that first world eyecare is accessible to factory workers.
To establish a network of fully equipped mobile clinics to access remote areas. This will also cater for the provision of occupational Optometry to industries.
To provide screening services to primary schools.
To invest in a laboratory to ensure affordable eye care.
CORE VALUES
Professionalism
Reliability
Commitment
Honesty
A VISIONARY CONCEPT
The concept of Lathi Tha’ was developed by a group of visionary black optometrists who felt passionately that the historical imbalances within the industry needed to be redressed.
Lathi Tha’ was established in February 2004 with the goal of uniting previously disadvantaged optometrists in order to achieve transformation within the industry hitherto dominated by non-black practitioners.
The priority is to extend equity to all previously disadvantaged stakeholders within the optometric industry, not just optical dispensers and their assistants, but also to non-medical staff, from cleaners to messengers, from technicians to receptionists.
We seek to become a major influential player within the optical industry as a whole, by setting up our own independent supply chains thereby creating potential to buy into existing large practices.
We will look to purchase practices available for sale, especially those in areas with a lot of passing trade such as shopping malls.
We will convert member practices as well as newly acquired practices into the Lathi Tha’ brand.
We will negotiate with landlords for possible sites and preferential rentals for our members.
We will procure frames directly from manufacturers that will be branded Lathi Tha’ thus maintaining exclusivity.
We will set up a store management unit which will help in making each store profitable whilst maintaining proper training for support staff.
Our ultimate aim is to be recognized as leaders in the provision of world-class eye care in Southern Africa, with our branded operations servicing our own broad and dedicated market, encompassing both urban and rural communities.
KEY FIGURES
The three key figures at Lathi Tha’ all share a reputation for pioneering black representation within the industry:
Sibusiso Gumede claims the distinction of having opened the first black owned optometry practice in KwaZulu-Natal in 1995. In 1997 he was introduced to Nozipho Fortunate Gigaba, who worked with him before going on to start her own practice in Port Shepstone in 1999, where she remained self-employed until the launch of LathiTha’ in 2004. Sibusiso Thabede, also hailing from Durban, started his first optometry practice in Umtata in 1989, setting up a chain of four successful practices over the next nine years.
Taking their cue from these astute and highly motivated founders, the shareholders of LathiTha’ now number 25 black optometrists of which 7 are female. The management of Lathi Tha’ comprises like-minded professionals with a broad range of skills and experience concentrated within, but not limited to, the optical industry.
Their scope extends to the areas of business management, academics, youth programmes, community service, government communication, consultation and negotiation.
Other shareholders are Gestalt and BrandSmart who consult for Lathi Tha’
A SHINING NEW BUSINESS MODEL
The structure of Lathi Tha’ is simple. Under the umbrella of Lathi Tha’ Eyecare Limited, individual professionals are encouraged to start their own Lathi Tha’ branded practices in partnership with Lathi Tha’ Eyecare Incorporated.
These individual practices then enjoy access to:
