Draft:Keyuren Maharaj

Keyuren Maharaj (Born 11 November 2002) is a South African community activist and entrepreneur from the province of KwaZulu-Natal. He is the current Chairperson of the Glenwood/Bulwer Ratepayer's and Resident's Association and the Director of Kolar Energy Pty Ltd. Keyuren has also started the Muthumal Sivagami Foundation of Sustainable Energy.

Early Life

Maharaj was born on 11th November 2002 in Clair Estate, a suburb of Durban. He started schooling at Tree Tops Pre-Primary School and then went on to Manor Gardens Primary School. Glenwood High School was where Maharaj started his path as a leader, holding the position of the Chairman of the Representative Council of Learners. and a School Prefect.

After Finishing High School, Maharaj enrolled at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is currently studying for a BSc in Mechanical Engineering. He is the Commodore of the UKZN Yacht Club and skippers the UKZN Sailing team in various regattas, a skill he started to learn back in 2016 at Glenwood High.

Community Projects

Maharaj started the Glenwood Ratepayers and Residents Association (GBRRA) in 2023 to mobilise activists and leaders from all backgrounds and walks of life and tackle important service delivery issues. The GBRRA undertake community initiatives aimed at improving services or addressing specific rate-payer concerns. These initiatives include designated community helpers, organizing educational workshops, promoting energy efficiency programs, supporting affordability initiatives, advocating for infrastructure improvements, and helping promote a safer community. Through this Maharaj became the technical public relations officer at the eThekwini Ratepayers Association and is helping to create a constructive relationship between individual residents and local authorities, helping to ensure that the voices and concerns of the community are heard and addressed. In 2024 Maharaj was vocal about the municipality's tariff increases and was backed by thousands of residents

Business Career

In early 2023 Maharaj founded Kolar Energy Pty Ltd, a start-up powered by youth and looking at providing the people of South Africa with a sustainable source of lighting. Consequently, Maharaj saw a need for projects in rural areas where most people do not have the luxury of light and started the Muthumal Sivagami Foundation for Sustainable Energy with the aim to bring sustainable development to these areas which will help facilitate rural-urban migration.

Sailing

Maharaj started his passion for sailing in 2016 with the Glenwood High Sailing team and was part of the 2016 team 2016 team who were placed 2nd in the L26 KZN Provincials. The next year his team placed 2nd in the L26 Nationals that took place during the 2017 MSC Week in KZN. Completing his skipper's license in 2019 he went on to take multiple 1st places at various interschool regattas. Maharaj was awarded the PYC Youth Sailor Award for 2021. He currently skippers for UKZN and races in regattas for the team during the year.