Johannesburg: SiltaNews – News Desk
One of South Africa’s most successful businessmen, Christo Wiese, says the country can be turned around in a year if the government gets out of the way. He shared his opinion about South Africa during a discussion with Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh on the SMWX podcast. Wiese is South African business royalty.
He acquired a controlling interest in Pep Stores in 1981 and pioneered discount consumer retail in South Africa. He is most famous for his role in transforming Shoprite Holdings, which Pep Stores acquired in 1979 for a nominal amount.
Wiese, with Whitey Basson as chief executive, turned the small chain into Africa’s largest supermarket operator. He served as chairman of both Shoprite, which owns Checkers, OK Bazaars, and Usave, as well as Pepkor, the parent company of Pep Stores, for decades.
His business interests also include stakes in investment holding company Brait, which owns Virgin Active and New Look, Invicta Holdings, and the Lourensford Wine Estate. Despite losing a large portion of his fortune due to the Steinhoff collapse, he rebuilt his business empire.
Wiese is currently the seventh richest South African. Forbes estimates his net worth to be approximately R31 billion. He has been a strong supporter of South Africa for decades, saying that it is the best country in the world to live in. Despite the country’s significant challenges, he said South Africa offers tremendous opportunities for its people.
Christo Wiese’s Message About South Africa
Wiese said South Africa has a great deal to be positive about, despite the pressing challenges the country faces. He said people often ask him what he thinks about South Africa, and he has a standard response to this question: ‘Compared to what?’.
“When you compare yourself to the rest of the world, I don’t see many happy pictures in too many places,” he said. Wiese explained that he decided to stay in South Africa despite its problems for numerous reasons, but one stands out. “I believe most of the people in South Africa are good people. There are other countries where you cannot say that of people,” he said.
He explained that, in the end, the fact that the majority of South Africans are good people will matter. He is also optimistic about South Africa due to its strong private sector, which helps address many of the country’s challenges. “South Africa differs from failed African nations in that it has a vibrant, large, competent, and committed private sector,” he said.
“Whatever the government cannot do, and there is a lot, the private sector can fix in a short period.” Wiese believes that if the government gets out of the way, the private sector can solve the country’s numerous problems. “A year from now, South Africa will be unrecognisable. All we need to do is get rid of our ideological hangups.”
South Africa Is A Lucky Country
As a billionaire, Wiese has the option to live anywhere in the world. However, he remains a loyal South African. Wiese previously stated that there is tremendous negativity towards South Africa, which often obscures the opportunities the country offers. “I convinced my children that this country has big challenges but tremendous opportunities,” he said.
He added that his children not only heard about South Africa’s problems around the dinner table. They also heard about the country’s positive aspects. He explained the decision to stay in the country is because of its great people, its resilience, and the fact that it is very lucky. “I believe that countries, like human beings, are either lucky or unlucky. South Africa’s history shows that it is a lucky country,” he said.
He cites the fact that Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk were in leadership positions simultaneously, which averted a potential catastrophe in South Africa. Wiese added that there are many other moments in history which showed that South Africa can be considered lucky.