Al-Qalam 
By Sana Ebrahim
Behind the warm smile and humble demeanour, Sumaya Suliman is tough as nails when it comes to driving her string of businesses, ranging from trucking to restaurants and hospitality enterprises.
Al-Qalam caught up with her at one of her restaurants in Durban to ask about her recipe for success.
A wife and mother of four, Sumaya’s entrepreneurial story began long before the accolades and business successes that would later define her career. Educated in Laudium, Pretoria, she relocated to Durban after marriage, where she focused on raising her family while steadily building her presence in the business world. Guided by determination and a natural entrepreneurial instinct, she transformed challenges into opportunities and developed a diverse portfolio encompassing transport, hospitality, property, and tourism.
In 2000, she co-founded RNS Trucking, establishing her foothold in the transport and logistics industry. Over the years, her interests expanded into hospitality and property investment, demonstrating a remarkable ability to identify opportunities across sectors.
Today, Sumaya owns several well-known restaurant franchises, including Jimmy’s Killer Prawns at Gateway and Westwood Mall, as well as Calisto’s Portuguese Restaurant at Gateway. Her business interests include holiday letting and hospitality ventures such as Raeesa’s Guesthouse.
Her entrepreneurial achievements have earned widespread recognition. In 2019, she received the Panache Women of Wonder Award. Two years later, she was named among Eastern Eye Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Personalities in South Africa and received the Women of Wonder Visionary Award. In 2023, she was nominated for Businesswoman of the Year by the Minara Chamber of Commerce, served as a panellist at the Al Baraka Women in Business event, and represented South Africa at World Halal Day. Her growing influence was further recognised in 2024 with the Women Icon International Award.
Her leadership journey continued in 2025 when she was appointed a Director of the Minara Chamber of Commerce and became one of the administrators of the United Halaal Association. Through these roles, she remains committed to empowering others and creating opportunities for women in business.
For Sumaya, one of her proudest achievements was opening her first Jimmy’s Killer Prawns franchise at Westwood Mall in September 2008.
“It was a dream come true,” she recalls. “The mall was still under construction at the time, and I had to wear boots when coming to see the store.”
Like many entrepreneurs, her journey has included successes and setbacks. While several ventures flourished, she also faced the difficult decision to close Jimmy’s outlets in Musgrave, the Musgrave Centre Food Court, and The Pavilion.
Her transport and logistics business proved particularly valuable during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite her extensive business experience, public speaking has presented its own challenges. Sumaya describes addressing the audience at the Women of Wonder event in 2019 as one of her most stressful experiences. “As an introvert, speaking in a theatre was incredibly stressful,” she admits.
Drawing on years of experience navigating changing economic conditions, she offers practical advice to aspiring and established business owners alike. “The market is so volatile at the moment. You have to have your hand in many pies,” she says. “The markets are not good. Cut down expenses, go through your bank statements, and scrutinise your accounts.”
Beyond business, Sumaya is involved in charitable initiatives, supporting madrassahs in Inanda and Bonela.
At the Minara Chamber of Commerce, she has helped introduce a loyalty programme that offers members discounts through a network of partner businesses. While she remains tight-lipped about future professional and personal ambitions, she hints that exciting developments are on the horizon.
When asked what qualities are essential for success in business, her answer is immediate. “Resilience, because business is a rollercoaster ride. You have to be strong-minded and approachable so that customers, staff, and suppliers can communicate with you. Ethics and principles are also essential in all your dealings.”
Support from her family and team has helped her pursue new opportunities, including the launch of a food trailer at Magma Agri Fair in Camperdown.
