The South African millionaire tech founder and ISP CEO who now owns an award-winning restaurant

Tim Wyatt-Gunning is a successful technology and telecommunications entrepreneur who now owns an award-winning restaurant in Cape Town.

Wyatt-Gunning was born in the United Kingdom and graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1991 with a Master of Arts degree.

He spent the next four years at Hill Samuel Bank in London, before moving into the telecommunications sector by joining Long Distance International.

The company, which mainly operated in the United States, specialised in low-cost business voice calls. Wyatt-Gunning assisted in establishing their London office.

In 1999, armed with in-depth knowledge of the low-cost voice market, he moved to South Africa and co-founded Storm Telecom.

Storm Telecom offered low-cost voice and connectivity services to small and medium-sized businesses across South Africa.

It was a great success. The company grew to 200 employees across three branches, with annual revenue of R250 million.

In 2008, he sold the company to Vox Telecom and exited the business. Early-stage investors achieved a 1,300% return through this deal.

Three years later, he joined Webafrica as chief executive, replacing the co-founder Matthew Tagg, who decided to move to the United States.

Webafrica is an ISP providing broadband internet connectivity to over consumers and small businesses in South Africa.

He built up a significant shareholding and ran the company until July 2020, when he relocated his family to the United Kingdom.

Although he stepped down as CEO, he remains a shareholder and non-executive director in Webafrica.

Tim Wyatt-Gunning is the co-owner of Vadivelu Restaurant in Cape Town

Wyatt-Gunning still has strong links to South Africa through his Webafrica directorship, and a restaurant, Vadivelu, which he co-founded and co-owns with Jason and Kevin Moodley.

Vadivelu is a modern Indian restaurant located at 151 Kloof Street in Gardens, Cape Town, known for its tagline, “Indian. With Attitude”.

It offers a short menu with South African-Indian food, including curry bombs, Sautéed Spicy Potato, and standard dishes like lamb curry, butter chicken, and tikka masala.

Sticking with its simplicity, it has only three desserts: Southern Indian rice pudding, Semolina, and Indian Ice Cream.

“Many of our recipes are based on those of Indian ancestors who arrived in South Africa as indentured labourers 150 years ago,” it said.

“Recipes adapted from a Tamil heritage with wonderful creativity applied to different available local spices.”

The restaurant has a unique take on wine. It offers wines that the owners know at four price points: R250, R350, R550, and R750 per bottle.

For those who prefer to bring their own wine, Vadivelu charges a R100 corkage fee. It also offers a small range of exclusive wines.

The restaurant, under the leadership of Jason Moodley and Wyatt-Gunning, has become known as one of the top Indian restaurants in Cape Town.

It has won the Lux People’s Choice Award in 2025 and 2026, and was listed as a top restaurant in the DP Reviewers’ Choice awards in 2024 and 2025.

Lason Moodley explained that they achieved these awards by focusing on the quality of each menu item.

“We ask every single customer for feedback. We add and subtract menu items monthly depending on customer demand and our innovation,” he said.

This customer-driven approach keeps the menu exciting while ensuring that favourites remain available.

Vadivelu photos

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Tim Wyatt-Gunning

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