KZN Oils was conceptualised in 1994 by Rajen Reddy who is presently the Chief Executive Officer. Rajen Reddy’s career spanned over twenty six years in business, during which time he had owned a retail Shell service station for nine years. In 1996 he decided to sell the service station and focus on KZN Oils, a 100% Black Economic Empowerment Company that resells petroleum related products to public and private companies. As a result of being awarded the Transnet tender in 2004, Rajen Reddy restructured the company shareholding. As a gesture of commitment to the empowerment of women, 26 % of the share capital was given to other previously disadvantaged people. Zanele Mbogazi formed Phaphama, a company with ten other Black women. Zanele Mbogazi is a non-executive director and is the Chairperson of Phaphama. Her involvement entails participation in key strategic decision making.
After having 26% shareholding for the past two years at FFS Bunkers, a company that refuels vessels, KZN Oils purchased the balance of the shares and since March 2006 have total control of the business. Rajen is also a shareholder in National Workshop Equipment, a company that manufactures and markets hydraulic pumps and garage equipment.

KZN Oils strives for continuous improvement in the critical business areas for the benefit of all customers and stakeholders through innovation, quality products and empowered employees. The company currently resells branded product under the flagship of other major oil companies. The company boasts high quality service in the logistics market and have access to storage tanks in Cape Town, Durban and Richards Bay. The intention of the company is to launch its own brand of lubricants in the near future.

As KZN Oils is a fully fledged black empowerment company, it supports Black owned businesses very aggressively. More than 50% of its overall procurement spend is from this business sector. In the spirit of true African hunters, the company is vigorously pursuing marketing opportunities in South Africa and on the African continent. KZN Oils believes that this will create a platform for other black empowered companies to expand their businesses. Whilst the company acknowledges the importance of expanding local business beyond its borders, it is their intention to build critical mass and sustainable revenue. In the next five years, KZN Oils see themselves as a commercially successful global company based in South Africa with a strong footprint in Africa, inspiring and supporting black entrepreneurship across the African continent.