In 2000 he completed the Program for Global Leadership certificate at the Harvard Business School in Boston, USA. After six years in engineering, Sandile joined African Merchant Bank and was appointed associate within the corporate finance division. He left in 1997 to establish SARHWU Investment Holdings, growing the company from a zero asset base to more than R400 million, in net asset value.

As executive director responsible for strategy and empowerment, he was intimately involved in developing and implementing plans by NAIL to distribute its interest in Metropolitan Life Limited (METLIFE). He left NAIL at the end of 2001 after its complete transformation to a R1 billion media company.

Sandile is past chairman of a number of companies, including Denel, Barnard Jacobs Mellet Holdings and Spectrum Shipping. He is non-executive director of, amonst others, Grinrod Ltd, Cipla Metro Ltd, Autozone, Supercare, Taquanta and Outdoor Network.

His many notable achievements include representing South Africa in 2000 at the 6th finals of the World Young Business Achievers, held in Florida, USA, where he won the much-coveted Outstanding Business Strategy award. Sandile is a member of the World Economic Forum in his capacity as Young Global Leader. He subscribes to the philosophy: hard work pays its dues and integrity sustains gains.

Sandile serves on the Black Business Council and has been requested by cabinet to represent South Africa on the BRICS Business Council.