VOL. 1 MARCH 2018 - OD Union Connect
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VOL. 1 MARCH 2018
Influencer economist Meet new Head of Never mind Branson: Christian Eedes on
Haroon Bhorat Council Simon Peile here’s Simon Draper! OD winemakers
SE E PAGE 17 S E E PAG E 2 0 SE E PAG E 2 5 SE E PAGE 34
Welcome
to the new OD magazine
T
his is indeed an historic divergent, our needs evolved. revealing the significant impact
milestone. Historic because, The time was ripe for change. our ODs are making in this world.
as Churchill noted, the The new OD magazine, The Stories that might inspire fellow
further back you look, the further Old Diocesan, is thus not simply ODs to follow suit.
forward you can see. A year ago, a standalone version of what we With the opening in 2015 of The
in March 2017, we witnessed have put together for the past Mitre, our new headquarters, the
a poignant milestone for the century. There is little need for ODU has taken a more prominent
school: delivery of the final issue it to carry current affairs, given role at the school. We hope the
of The Diocesan College Magazine, the reach and immediacy of our publication of The Old Diocesan will
a publication that dates back to weekly newsletters, our (newly carry this role forward, honouring
1886 and which served such a vital updated) website and our social- the history and tradition of the
role in recording the history and media platforms. school and those who attended it,
tradition of the school. No longer Rather, in seeing an opportunity while embracing innovation and
would the school and ODU present to be grasped, the OD Committee change to safeguard its future.
their news together in the same put out the call for a strongly My great gratitude to all
publication – now there would be editorial publication to share involved. History will never forget
separate magazines for each. stories of a more in-depth nature. your sacrifice!
It was a bold decision, and Stories to keep ODs interested
PHOTOGRAPH FREDDIE CHILD-VILLIERS
the correct one: the format was and emotionally invested in their WP van Zyl
dated, the audiences increasingly school and their union. Stories ODU Secretary
The Old Diocesan is published by The Old Diocesan Union
Editor Tim Richman (1995B) Freddie Child-Villiers (2008S), Magazine subcommittee Advertising Tessa Fenton-
Sub-editor Deborah Rudman Brandon de Kock (1986K), Anton Taylor (2005B), Wells tessa@tfwcc.net
Designer Simon Richardson Christian Eedes (1988B), Nicole Du Rand, Alan Ramsay Printed by
Professional contributors Matthew Pearce (1987G), (1960F), WP van Zyl (1997K) Shumani Mills, Cape Town,
Tudor Caradoc-Davies (1998B), Richard Poplak Archivist Dr Paul Murray (staff) www.shumanimills.co.za
Contents
1 Welcome 28 Magazine Men
4 Message from the Principal 32 Man from Atlantis
6 Visual History: Past vs Present, 1903 34 The Winemakers
8 OD Photography: Been around the world 44 Master of Mezcal
12 News Snippets 48 The OD Bookshelf
14 Entertainment: Hedwig, Tali and the entertainers 50 Fighting Fire
17 The Economist: Haroon Bhorat 52 The Power of Art: Sophy Gray ODU Art Prize
20 The Investor: Simon Peile 54 Sports News: Rugby rules
25 Never mind the bollocks, here’s Simon Draper 56 His (Currie) cup is full
ON THE COVER As a nod to the past, our inaugural cover layout is
adapted from the design of The Diocesan College Magazine, with
a painting of The Mitre by Richie Ryall (1977F) in place of the classic
sketch looking to Founders by Joseph Solomon. Richie’s painting
is featured in his book A Brush With Bishops and, appropriately,
hangs in The Mitre. www.richieryall.com
58 Honouring A Century Of Silence: Reg Hands 60 The OD War Record 61 Obituaries: We will remember them 64 122nd ODU Chairman’s Annual Report 2018 69 Who’s Who in the ODU 70 OD Events 72 Branch News & Information 74 The ODU Mentorship Programme 78 The Bishops Trust 79 The OD Business Registry The Mitre photographed by Freddie Child-Villiers (2008S), February 2018. Freddie, a freelance photographer based between Cape Town and London, started his photographic career while at Bishops and has pursued it ever since. His photographs appear elsewhere in the magazine, and he contributed to our OD photographers’ page – see p9. www.fcvphotography.com @fcvphoto
Principal of Bishops Guy Pearson.
Message from the principal
With a review of the year at Bishops in 2017. By Guy Pearson
I
t is a pleasure for me to 48.6% of all subject results were Chris Aubin received the award
provide a report for this OD above 80%; for the top English student in the
magazine, the first in this There were 62 A aggregates province and he, Kwangbem Ko
current format. I am pleased (41% of the class), with 14 boys and Felix Burt received certificates
to report that Bishops is in good achieving an aggregate of 90% of merit for coming in the top 20 in
shape and the boys continue to and above; the province overall.
produce fantastic results across a The top student was These superb results were,
range of activities in which every Christopher Aubin with an however, not the academic
boy can find his niche. aggregate of 96.7%, followed by highlight of the year: that came
From an academic perspective Kwangbem Ko with 94.7%; from Angus Thring, who won
the school achieved outstanding 9 distinctions were achieved by both the National Science and
matric results at the end of 2017, Christopher Aubin; National Physics Olympiads
the highlights being the following: 8 distinctions were achieved – this from a cohort of 40,000
150 boys wrote the exam, of by Felix Burt, Nicholas entrants. Truly fantastic! Angus
whom 148 (98.7%) achieved Featherstone, Kwangbem Ko, has been nominated for the Mary
a Bachelors pass and two a Stephane Pienaar and Angus Gray Scholarship to study as an
Diploma pass; Thring; undergraduate at Cambridge next
There were 525 subject 36% of the class achieved 5 year, a brilliant achievement.
distinctions (3.5 per candidate); distinctions or more. While we celebrate these
15.2% of all subject results were At the Western Cape Education academic results, we need to
above 90%; Department awards ceremony take cognisance of the fact that
4 | THE OLD DIOCESAN
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
the world around us is rapidly Chris Aubin receives his WCED
changing. Automation and award from Western Cape
artificial intelligence are reshaping Premier Helen Zille and Debbie
the world of work. We need to Shafer, MEC for Eductaion.
focus on 21st century skills of
collaboration and teamwork,
creativity and imagination, critical
thinking and problem solving.
At Bishops I believe that many
21st century skills are learnt
outside the classroom in events
such as the annual Eisteddfod,
the Epic, in Community Service
projects, in the leadership
programme and much more.
It has been a stellar year on
the cultural front: from the part of the curriculum and as are relevant in the future.
outstanding drama production, demonstrated in school operations. Recent times have not been
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The severe drought we are without their challenges, with
to the Eisteddfod and the superb experiencing in the Western Cape several deaths of parents and
Classic Pops, we have been royally has shown how important it is that staff in our Bishops community. In
entertained. We also congratulate we have plans in place to ensure early 2017 our Head Boy Christian
Nicholas Peile, who is the National that Bishops survives in the face of Rohrer was diagnosed with osteo
Public Speaking Champion in such challenges. sarcoma. He proved an amazing
South Africa. This year we have started example of courage, determination
On the sports fields Bishops conversations with various interest and optimism throughout his
remains competitive while we groups of boys and staff regarding treatment and recovery. He
continue to emphasise that sport the fundamental question of continued to be our leader despite
is an important part of educating whether Bishops is a welcoming many days away from school and a
the whole man. There have been environment for all our boys and debilitating chemo regime. He was
some wonderful individual and staff, irrespective of race, religion, with his peers in body and spirit
team performances. The stand- gender or sexual orientation. throughout the year and despite
out team in the 2017 year was These conversations have already missing substantial academic
undoubtedly the 1st XI hockey, been useful in exposing subliminal time he sat his final exams
who showed the true meaning of bias in the Bishops environment and achieved six distinctions
the saying that “there is no ‘I’ in and will be extended to include – remarkable!
team”! While there were many parents and ODs in due course. I am proud of the boys of
great individual performances, Transformation and diversity at Bishops. They continue to produce
the courage and determination Bishops is vital to ensure that we excellent results in all spheres of
shown by Stephane Pienaar in school life, and they are happy,
setting a world record by rowing engaged, loyal and proud of
267km in 24 hours on an erg was their school. We are fortunate
truly special. to have highly competent staff,
At Bishops we are committed both academic and support, who
to a process of engaging boys, contribute so much to ensuring
staff, parents and ODs on matters the success of our boys. Most
regarding the future sustainability importantly, we are committed to
of the school. This involves the producing “good men” at Bishops,
“future fitting” of Bishops for a boys who will become good
sustainable future. Our vision is to boyfriends, good husbands, good
address global issues, including the fathers and good citizens of
sustainability of the environment, South Africa.
economy and society, both as Mike Bosman and Christian Rohrer. Pro Fide et Patria.
THE OLD DIOCESAN | 5
Past vs present, 1903
04
01 William Yeoman
was, with Frank Reid,
03
the first of the Rhodes 02
Scholars elected for the
pre-war pilot scheme.
He played cricket for
Western Province.
01
02 Walter Dickson
played rugby for
Oxford, Scotland and
the Barbarians. He was
killed in action in 1915.
05 06
03 Cecil Boyes won the
Currie Cup playing for
Western Province
in 1908.
04 Noel Howe-Browne
won Blues at Oxford for 08
07
football and swimming,
and played rugby for
South Africa in 1910.
05 Archie Difford
played cricket for
Western Province and
Transvaal. He was killed
in action in 1918.
06 Sir Murray Bissett
captained the South
African cricket team
07 HJC Walcott 08 ‘Paddy’ Carolin coining the nickname
(top score: 184 against
represented Griqualand captained the Springboks, and took 30
Derbyshire) and became
West at cricket and Springboks, is credited wickets at an average of
Chief Justice of Southern
tennis, and Eastern with inventing the 3-4-1 21.60 and hit three 50s
Rhodesia, also acting
Province at tennis. scrum formation and for Western Province.
as Governor.
VISUAL HISTORY
This is the historic photograph, taken on Founders school magazine observed, “what an attractive picture
Day in 1903, that visitors to The Mitre encounter when it is, with both teams mingling together, as members
they step through the museum entrance, reproduced of a family should”. Today we marvel at the collection
life-size on the facing wall. It depicts those involved in of potential talent it represents, including nine
the ODs v First XI cricket match during a break in play internationals, three of whom were captain, and thus
– note the pipes going strong. As a 1964 edition of the the potential that the school still offers to this day.
09
10
11
12 Frank Porter
played cricket for Border,
Eastern Province and
Transvaal.
13 Percy Twentyman
Jones played three
rugby Tests for South
Africa, in 1896, scoring
the country’s first
12 13 14 international try and
appearing in our first
international victory. He
also played one cricket
Test. He later became
Judge President of
the Cape.
14 Allan Reid, Frank’s
16 eldest brother, played
17
15 cricket for South Africa
in 1901.
15 Reginald Davis
became Judge President
of the Cape Division of
the Supreme Court.
16 Arthur Bissett
played cricket for South
Africa in England in
1901.
09 Stanley Horwood 10 PF Smith practised 11 Frank Reid, the 17 ‘Biddy’ Anderson
played cricket for South as a barrister in South man for whom the captained the South
Africa in England in Africa and England and school’s First XI field is African cricket team
1904. co-authored A Digest of named, played cricket and played alongside
SA Case Law. for Western Province Twentyman Jones in
and was a national our first international
selector. rugby victory.
Been around
the world
We asked for photographs from ODs on
their travels. These were the pics of the bunch
Andre Gie (1999O) sent
in shots from Leuven,
“the Belgian equivalent
of Stellenbosch”, where
he’s doing his PhD. He
evidently spends a lot of
time up mountains taking
photos, such as this one on
the Arête du Table on the
Aiguille du Tour, Chamonix
Valley, France. @andregiePHOTOGRAPHY
In February, Freddie Child-Villiers (2008S) returned from a three-month, 10-country, 20,000km
road trip with his wife Tegan to photograph the Masai, Samburu and Turkana tribes of northern
Tanzania and Kenya. Here they are crossing the equator in Kenya. @fcvphoto
Royston Ballard (1992B), currently
living in London, spent several years
trying to catch a shot of the Little
Owls he often heard in Richmond
Safari operator Alastair Kilpin (1992F) took this shot of travel writer Scott Park. His patience paid off: he took
Ramsay (1993F) with locals coming in from harvest on the slopes of the this photograph in December 2017.
Virungas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 2017. Find Alastair and
Scott’s wildlife photography: @mammothsafaris and @lovewildafrica
THE OLD DIOCESAN | 9Chris Leggat (1989K) runs Eden
Adventures in Wilderness, which
allows him to spend a lot of time
travelling. This photo (above) from
AfrikaBurn 2017 was his most popular
on Instagram last year, with more
than 8,000 views on the Burning Man
feed. @chriscrossingsa
Tim Rideout (1978W), lives in
Scotland, but proves you don’t have
to go far from Cape Town for a piece
of heaven. He took this picture (left)
of the Disa Falls on the Witels River
in the Hex River Mountains last year.
Rob Graaf (1992F) sent in this pic
of him kite-surfing at an altitude
of 4,328m on Laguna Verde, in the
northern Andes, on the Bolivia-Chile
border, December 2015. (Note the
large kite needed to compensate for
the thin air.) Rob was travelling in
support of a Madswimmer Expedition
at the time, in which the world record
for the highest ever swim was set at
5,915m on lake Tres Cruces Norte. For
info on their next major expedition,
to Antarctica in November 2018,
see www.madswimmer.com
10 | THE OLD DIOCESANTo invest your money today, visit coronation.com Coronation is an authorised financial services provider and approved manager of collective investment schemes. Trust is Earned™.
News Snippets
ODs have been – or will be –
making waves in various spheres
of endeavour around the world
The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is a premier
ocean-rowing event – not for the faint-hearted.
Inset (from left): Cole Barnard, Lee Gordon,
Grant Soll and Matthew Boynton.
Four youngsters
taking on the Atlantic
MAD 4 Waves is a team of four A Difference (MAD) Leadership Canary Islands to the Caribbean,
ODs who are taking on one of the Foundation to raise funds to will begin in December 2018.
toughest endurance challenges on sponsor a boy through high Unsurprisingly, it’s a massively
the planet: rowing unaided across school, so as to give him the expensive undertaking and the
the Atlantic Ocean. “same incredible opportunities team needs a considerable amount
Cole Barnard (2014B), Grant that we have all had the fortune of funding – approximately
Soll (2014W), Lee Gordon (2014M) of experiencing at Bishops”. They R2.1 million. They hope, through
and Matthew Boynton (2014W) also hope to raise enough money the generosity of ODs and others, to
are hoping to raise funds through to provide desks for 1,000 learners adorn their boat with the Bishops
their participation in the Talisker throughout the country. Mitre. For more information
Whisky Atlantic Challenge. They The arduous journey, which and to make a donation, visit
have partnered with the Make will cover some 5,500km from the www.mad4waves.com
12 | THE OLD DIOCESANNEWS
Prodigious success
We were suitably impressed to read in August last year that London-based
Prodigy Finance, headed up by Cameron Stevens (1995K), had raised
$240 million in debt and equity funding, and we made a note to follow up for
the magazine. Cameron, unsurprisingly, is a difficult man to get hold of these
days, but we did manage to get this short report from his almost-as-busy head
of marketing, Guy Shand (1995K).
“Three years ago, I joined Prodigy Finance and it has changed my
perspective on what it is to work at a fast-growing company that is ethically
motivated. Cameron started the company in 2007 with the aim of solving a
problem experienced by the world’s brightest students wanting to attend the
world’s top business schools: access to finance. In response, Cameron and
his co-founders developed a proprietary risk model that considers a range of
variables, including future earnings of international students.
“Our loans are funded by investors, both qualified private and institutional,
who want the opportunity to invest in something that provides a financial
and social return. We work with the likes of Oxford and Cambridge, London Life-saver
Business School, INSEAD, Stanford, Wharton and Harvard, and to date we’ve Andrew Willis (1987B)
lent more than $480 million to over 9,900 students on a global scale. reports from the UK that he
“I’m incredibly proud to work with Cameron and others in an organisation completed his Sergeant’s
that is disrupting the fintech space while simultaneously mobilising talent training in May 2017, and
around the world.” became a substantive officer
For ODs interested in Prodigy Finance’s student loans or their investment in the London Metropolitan
opportunities, or if you’d like to see what positions they have available (in Cape Police. “Nothing beats the
Town, London and New York), visit www.prodigyfinance.com. We are hoping to adrenaline rush of travelling
track down Cameron for a more in-depth interview next issue. at speed on blue lights
through busy London busy
streets to respond to a 999
call,” he writes. Remarkably,
Andrew has saved two lives
in two separate incidents in
the last year: he arrived in
the nick of time to cut down
a woman who was in the
process of hanging herself,
and he saved a man who
was trapped beneath a car
and about to be crushed.
Cameron Stevens Guy Shand
Building a legacy
An august gathering took place at the Vineyard Hotel in
Newlands on 8 December 2017: 16 Past Presidents of the
Master Builders Association Western Cape attended a lunch
hosted by John Slingsby, the newly appointed president.
Pictured are the four of those Past Presidents who are ODs.
From left: Stephen Jones (1948O) of Stephen Jones Roofing,
John Slingsby (1989O) of Slingsby & Gaidien Construction,
Barry Van Breda (1962S) of Scheltema, and Dave Hofmeyr
(1969O) of West Cape Joinery.Hedwig, Tali and
the entertainers
A review of ODs on the entertainment circuit
Give him an inch…
The last 12 months have been
good for Paul du Toit (1992W).
Most notably, he won a hat-trick of
awards: the Fleur du Cap for best
performance in a musical for playing
the title role in Hedwig And The
Angry Inch, as well as two for his
performance in Marthinus Basson’s
Melk en Vleis, awarded by the
Aardklop Festival and the Kyknet
Fiesta panel. Terrifyingly, he landed a
starring role in the Universal Pictures
horror Tremors: Cold Day In Hell,
and he’s lined up to present a South
African reality show on VIA.
Paul also appeared in the 2017 local
film Beyond The River, set against
the Dusi Canoe marathon, and we’re
impressed to hear that he completed
his sixth Dusi in February this year,
in the colours of the recently formed
Stanford Canoe Club.
Hedwig And The Angry Inch
opened in Johannesburg on
4 March at Pieter Toerien’s Theatre
at Montecasino. For more information
see www.pietertoerien.co.za.
“Strutting onto stage as if he’s been a gender-
bending glam rocker all his life is the vocal
powerhouse that is Paul du Toit” – Cape Times
14 | THE OLD DIOCESANOD NEWS
THE ROUNDUP
Not the usual musician Emmy-nominated, multiple
One of our more influential musical sons, James SAMA-award winning musician
Stewart (see right) reports that in 2017 his company James Stewart (1992B) and
singer/songwriter (and Springbok
MUSICalchemy expanded its offering from music
windsurfer) Cameron Bruce
supervision and composition to include licensing, (1987G) were popular performers,
administration and high-end studio production: it along with Cameron’s daughter
now offers a complete music service for film, TV Rosie, at The Mitre in June 2017.
With his first band The Usual,
and commercials, elevating it to world-leading levels.
James achieved fame with hits
For more see www.music-alchemy.com. like The Shape That I’m In and is
a regular performer throughout
the country. Cameron has been
performing for audiences since
What the actual… the late ’80s, singing original folk
Readers with a Showmax subscription will no doubt have heard of songs and popular covers.
Tali’s Wedding Diary, the much-punted mockumentary starring Julia Mike Hardy (1992O), alumnus
Anastasopoulos, once SuzelleDIY, now playing an Insta-obsessed of the popular Sons of Trout,
Sandton princess. Released in December 2017, it turns out the hype was launched his successful band Bed
well warranted, with Tali receiving critical praise and knocking Game on Bricks in early 2003. Three
of Thrones off the online-streaming channel’s most-watched perch. Its studio albums and numerous live
success was thanks in no small measure to a trio who cut their acting performances followed, and most
teeth in the Memorial Theatre: lead actor Anton Taylor (2005B) plays recently they opened for Canadian
Darren Nudelman, Tali Shapiro’s fiancé; Glen Biderman-Pam (2007F) stars rock group Crash Test Dummies at
as Darren’s best friend and business partner Rael Rosen; and Oli Booth the Hillcrest Quarry in Durbanville
(2007K) appears as Marc Seleibowitz, their business rival and enemy. in February 2018.
Outside of the show, both Oli and Glen are successful stand-up One of the busiest and most
comedians, with Glen appearing every Wednesday in #WTFTumi on popular live performers in South
SABC3. Anton works as a rugby commentator for SuperSport, and can be Africa, Conrad Koch (1995K) will
heard calling Varsity Cup, SuperSport Challenge and Currie Cup games. appear, along with his alter ego
Chester Missing, in Puppet Guy
at Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre
in April 2018.
TV and film actor Charlie Keegan
(2004F) appeared in the local
sci-fi movie short About Time,
released in September 2017, while
singing, dancing and stripping
were all part of the show when
David Wilke (2011O) appeared in
the Pinelands Players’ musical The
Full Monty at Grand West’s Roxy
Revue Bar in November.
Singer-actor Jaydon Farao
(2013W) took the starring role in
Snoopy – The Musical at Artscape
in February 2018, with Simon
Thompson (2014K) playing Linus
and Bishops marketing manager
Rosemary Wilke working as
Glen Biderman-Pam (left) and Anton Taylor (right) starred in the Showmax
assistant stage manager for
hit Tali’s Wedding Diary, with Julia Anastasopoulos a.k.a SuzelleDIY.
the well-received production.
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021 657 2139THE ECONOMIST
The Economist:
Haroon Bhorat
With the Zuma years having come to an end (just two weeks
before this magazine went to print), the age of Ramaphosa is
upon us. Haroon Bhorat, the influencer economist who would
not have been allowed to attend Bishops a generation earlier
than he did, is perfectly placed to dissect the paradoxes of
South African inequality. By Richard Poplak
T
he term “star academic” earned a PhD in Economics at But it is perhaps as a policy
can seem like an oxymoron Stellenbosch University, did hard advisor to former South African
– no-one tacks a poster time at the Massachusetts Institute presidents and finance ministers
of a professor on their bedroom of Technology, and also served that Bhorat has made the most
wall, alongside images of Lionel as a Cornell University research impact. His bailiwick is the
Messi and Bryan Habana. But fellow. Indeed, he has collected labour market, and his academic
Haroon Bhorat (1986G), professor fellowships at a variety of major approach has been remarkably
of economics at the University of international institutions, and holistic. For instance, how do
Cape Town, has over the course of consulted widely for the likes historical factors, policy decisions,
his career become a poster-worthy of the World Bank and the regulations, collective bargaining,
academic.On leaving Bishops, he International Labour Organization. micro- and macro-economic
THE OLD DIOCESAN | 17context conspire to create, well, the next decade, that became
fact. “We’ve managed to create
jobs – or, more to the point in the his focus. wealth by benefiting listed entities
aftermath of Zuma-era South The notion of work – who should
by building shopping malls in
Africa, joblessness? work; where they should work –
Soweto.” While this observation
In pursuit of answers to these was central to both the colonial
would hardly thrill Shoprite’s
questions, Bhorat inhabits a large, and apartheid projects. Labour was
board, it is an undeniable feature
light-dappled office at UCT’s the mechanism by which a racial
of post-apartheid economic policy,
School of Economics. The room underclass was engineered; cheap
and it hasn’t worked as a wealth-
is suitably boffin-worthy, with labour was the regime’s rocket
distribution mechanism. Inequality
inscrutable sigils scribbled on fuel. Addressing these issues was
has become an ingrained feature of
the white board, and books with integral to transforming South
South African life.
lengthy titles stuffed into shelves. Africa into a fair and reasonable
According to Bhorat, the DPRU
Large and garrulous, Bhorat state that benefited the majority
has three interlocking mandates.
has a way of making complex of its citizens. The first is to produce “applied
problems seem simple – or, But it hasn’t been easy. “Why
policy work” for South Africa, such
rather, of rendering complexity do we have such an unequal
as producing for the Department
understandable. growth path?” Bhorat asks me. He
of Labour a report on the national
“For someone with a specialty then urges me to look outside his
minimum wage. Secondly, the
in labour policy, I’ve only ever window at the parking lot below.
DPRU has been branching out into
had one employer – UCT,” he tells “There are no people,” he points
the rest of the continent, trying to
me. The university has served out, “and there is no-one selling
get to the bottom of the optimism
as his academic locus for his anything. If this were Delhi or
behind African growth. And the
entire career. He kicked off here Jakarta, there’d be hundreds of
third is as an outgrowth of the
in 1994 by doing “way too much informal-sector traders trying
first two: “We try to engage in
teaching” in the undergraduate to sell you something. We have
the policy discourse.” This means
programme, heavily invested in what we describe as a ‘path
inserting the DPRU into sometimes
the transformation initiatives that dependency’, which is defined by
controversial debates around the
morphed into the benchmark tests keeping the informal sector – low-
economic future of South Africa
that have integrated the previously end workers trying to find a piece
and its neighbours – which has
disadvantaged into the university’s of the economic pie – far away
won Bhorat a measure of fame,
education stream. He then from the consumers, from the
if not notoriety.
moved to the Development Policy cities. Our path-dependent notion
Regarding the current political
Research Unit (DPRU), which he of economic development, such as
realignment in South African
now runs, as the head of research shopping malls in Soweto, leads
politics, and the ascension of Cyril
on the “Presidential Labour Market to the dirty footnote that we’ve
Ramaphosa to the presidency of
Commission”. kicked out the informal traders.”
both the African National Congress
“That then got me front and and the country, Bhorat is bullish:
In other words, this ain’t
centre and involved in labour “There is certainly a realisation
Germany or Belgium, and our
market issues,” he says. For of the horror show we’ve been
economic policy should reflect that
through in terms of state capture;
in terms of the destructive
nature of institutionalised
corruption.” Bhorat knows
“We can’t revert to business as usual precisely how well the
[under Ramaphosa] because we won’t state was ceded to the
Zuma mafia – he was a
have addressed the underlying dynamic key member of the inter-
of our economy. If we don’t change, university team that
compiled the Betrayal Of
we’ll be back to where we started in ten The Promise report released
years from now.” – HAROON BHORAT in May 2017 – and heTHE ECONOMIST
that followed was anger, and what
followed that was acceptance.
“Bishops, in my view, is a key part of
a historical legacy that can be, and
in parts has been, very good. There’s
not only an astonishing amount of
capital wealth, but also knowledge
wealth – a tremendous amount of
history, of networks, of individuals
who do good at the school. Because
the society has changed, the right
values have been imbibed by the
school and I remain indebted to
the school as well as confident that
it will be a key component of our
future as a country.”
Without question, the Karl Marx
of Bishops has put it all to good use.
But the challenges are significant,
and there are more ahead of us.
Are the robots about to take over?
Haroon Bhorat speaking at the Brookings Institution in Washington DC. Bhorat believes that once again, the
He is, among other positions, a Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Institution. threat is unevenly distributed. “The
robots’ reach into the labour market
is in the middle of the distribution,”
believes the experience has shaken social instability is not sustainable. he explains. In other words, they
the ANC deeply. But a return to A half-decent shrink would insist pose a threat to the middle class.
the Thabo Mbeki-era mindset, he that much of Bhorat’s obsession Presumably, Professor Haroon
argues, will limit the potential with flattening inequality comes Bhorat will be there with a policy
for change. “We can’t revert from his experience at Bishops, paper to help the government ward
to business as usual,” he says, which he characterises as a very off the bots. Who knows – but under
“because we won’t have addressed positive one. (His son Taahir Cyril Ramaphosa, there may be a
the underlying dynamic of our followed in his footsteps.) As the chance that they’ll listen.
economy, which isn’t sufficiently scion of a first-generation doctor
redistributive and employment- whose parents were born in India,
generating.” If we don’t change, Bhorat attending the school Richard Poplak, best known in
says Bhorat, “we’ll be back to served as the ultimate testament South Africa for his work at The
where we started in ten years to upwardly mobile success. “He Daily Maverick, is an award-winning
from now.” just wanted the best for me,” journalist who contributes to
But this will require a says Bhorat. As the only private publications around the world. His
reformulation of and more school that took black kids in 1977, most recent book is Continental Shift:
creative thinking around growth Bishops was both the best and the A Journey Into Africa’s Changing
policy, and it will mean South only option. Fortunes. @poplak
Africa will look very different His nickname at school was
from what it does right now – an Karl Marx – “Being young during
ersatz European country with a the 1980s, I was quite strongly Professor Bhorat has co-edited
hidden underclass pushed to the radical,” he notes. He lived four books and written more than
fringes. Not everyone will find this straddled between two societies 150 journal articles, book chapters
change salutary, but the current – apartheid at home in Rylands, and papers. For a listing of his recent
environment of low economic and an elitist education when at publications, find his biography
growth coupled with high levels of school in Rondebosch. The phase at www.dpru.uct.ac.za.
THE OLD DIOCESAN | 19The investor:
Simon Peile
Together with his wife Magda Wierzycka, Simon Peile
is the majority shareholder of the Sygnia Group. He is
also a formidable opponent of corruption, a committed
birder and new Chairman of the Bishops Council.
Tim Richman steps into his office to discuss Twitter,
cryptocurrency and how to future-proof your children
S
imon Peile (1979F) is, though Simon, an actuary by training, the other face of government. (The
he may be reluctant to admit is the lower-profile, deep-thinking push and pull of our oppugnant
it, one half of one of the most ballast in the ship. Or, as he puts it, government can hardly be better
influential couples in South Africa. the brake to his wife’s accelerator. illustrated.)
His wife Magda Wierzycka at first In early 2017 Simon stepped The facebrick Sygnia
made her reputation as the no- down as head of investments at headquarters are contemporary
nonsense face of the Sygnia Group, Sygnia, and he’s been in supposed and airy, adorned with bright
the JSE-listed fintech company that semi-retirement ever since – but modern art and eye-catching
has disrupted the South African when you’re head of the Bishops installations. In Simon’s office I
investment landscape with some Council and you’re doing your spot a one-of-a-kind illustration,
flair; now she brandishes that best to help save South Africa, this not yet hung: a collaboration of
reputation as a weapon to fight doesn’t mean working less. While several dozen of the world’s great
political corruption and corporate in Cape Town, he hasn’t taken an cartoonists – there’s Hagar the
maladministration. If you’ve afternoon off in that time. Horrible, Dagwood, the Wizard
followed Magda on Twitter you We meet at Sygnia’s Green of Id. Behind his desk is a small
may have seen her, for example, Point office the day after Malusi Banksy, which Simon points out
challenging Mmusi Maimane Gigaba has delivered his (first and to me: it depicts a heart, a greater-
about the DA’s mismanagement of last) budget. Turns out Sygnia than sign and a dollar symbol.
desalination tenders in Cape Town, assisted the Finance Ministry in its The view from the window to the
or (more likely) taking Zuma’s preparation (with the definitions MyCiTi bus depot includes buses
henchmen to task for their usual of cryptocurrencies); and that adorned with Sygnia advertising –
trough-guzzling and racketeering. Simon and Magda are on first- good for staff morale. I haven’t yet
When the Guptas went on the run name terms with Pravin and other started the interview, but signs are
she tweeted offers totalling almost heavyweights; and that they spend good that Bishops has chosen an
R1 million for information leading a fair deal on bodyguards – the effective, thoughtful Chairman
to their arrests. price of their vocal position against of Council.
20 | THE OLD DIOCESANTHE INVESTOR
Sygnia, with your wife Magda at
the fore, has played a very vocal
corporate-activism role in recent
times. Is this a calculated strategy?
No, it’s not. Magda’s never been
shy, and she’s been vocal on issues
all through her working career. So
her critics claim it’s just a way of
achieving publicity, and she says to
them, well, there’s a very big stage
here, there’s room for everyone
who wants to be involved. There
may well have been some positive
spin-offs for the business, but this
is driven from the heart. It’s her
personality, and it’s my influence
as well. These are our values.
Do you sometimes wake up in the
morning, look at Twitter and think,
did you just say that?
Yes! Well, no… When Magda first
started on Twitter, I suggested
we take a step back and think
about how Twitter should be used.
Effectively, it is marketing for the
company. So, as a duo, we had a
chat about that, and I think she’s
done an excellent job in managing
her profile. Every now and then we
can see we might not want to go
in a certain direction, so we leave
that area alone.
It’s all basically about governance
and corruption. We see the damage
that has been done, but we realised
that people weren’t doing anything
about it, they weren’t speaking up.
A lot of corporates were conflicted
because of their government
contracts and the risks involved.
PHOTOGRAPH LIZA VAN DEVENTER
Sygnia might be a publicly listed Husband and wife Simon Peile
company, but Magda and I are the and Magda Wierzycka are the
majority shareholders, and the majority shareholders of Sygnia
story to investors has always been, Group. Magda remains the face
we’ll run this business as well as we of and driving force behind
can and we’ll hopefully grow it and the company, while Simon has
we have provisions for it, but if you stepped back to find time to,
don’t like what we’re doing, take the among other things, chair the
money elsewhere. Because we will Bishops Council.ruffle a few feathers. That’s the deal. Well, it’s the convergence of the average, get the average
I don’t think it’s ever been expressed finance industry and technology. market return less cost of
that way but it is implied. What’s interesting for Sygnia is these active managers. Passive
that as an asset-management management is more consistent,
To touch on the actual politics, what company we employ more systems and the main advantage is the
do you think was the tipping point developers than we do people lower costs.
for the Zuma administration? in the investment team. We’ve The other side of that equation
The Big Four banks pulling out always built our own systems so is that active managers go through
was very important but, on a that we can control the process, ups and downs. What typically
slightly more personal level, I’d and the timing of when we started happens to the average investor
say it was, very significantly, the the company, in the early 2000s, is they fire the guy who has been
leaked emails. was ideal. We started in that sweet doing badly and they hire the guy
spot of new technologies. We didn’t who has just done well, when
Do you have safety concerns as have legacy problems that others the two graphs are going in the
a result of your public positions? have with old systems. wrong directions. So they’re paying
You have to. With the change in Ultimately, we are trying to use higher fees and getting their
tide in December, we’re a little technology to provide products timing wrong. I’ve spent most of
more comfortable, but last year that are more efficient, lower cost, my career trying to pick managers,
Magda would have up to four more accessible, easier to use, and it’s a very difficult game.
bodyguards at a time, and our easier to access. We are innovative
children wouldn’t be without them. and we can do things quickly. Tell us about some specific
innovative products Sygnia offers.
So we have government corruption Part of your success has been About a year and a half ago
on one side, and Steinhoff on shifting emphasis away from active we launched a passive fund
another – was that also corruption? investment to passive investment; called the Sygnia 4th Industrial
I’m pretty sure it was. But there’s a for example, offering index trackers Revolution Fund. It’s passive
difference between private-sector with low management costs that because it tracks an index, but
and public-sector corruption, and follow the market. Was this a gap in it’s an attractive index for several
this isn’t an excuse to the people the investment market? reasons. It’s constructed by a Big
who say you only criticise the To a degree, yes. There should Data company in the US, and
government, you don’t criticise be a symbiosis between active it includes over 200 US-listed
business. Of course we criticise and passive. In South Africa the companies, all of which are
business, but state capture and equilibrium is wrong: there’s exposed to tech – the 4th Industrial
government corruption was probably not enough passive and Revolution. It’s an offshore fund,
structural, it was pervasive too much active. it’s an equity fund, it’s a US-
throughout, it was carefully Your active managers will argue domiciled fund – those are some
planned as a strategy, whereas that they do the hard yards, they of the decision-making layers.
Steinhoff is a specific situation. It’s analyse companies and, through Then the final one is: it’s
not necessarily reflective of the their research, skill and hard work, exposed to broadly diversified new
private sector as a whole. they find the right stocks to put in technologies. It’s an innovative
The other side of it is that we are their portfolios. And that passive product, and no-one else in South
more confident that the wheels investors are parasites who sit on Africa is doing this sort of thing.
of justice will turn at a more the back of that. But you also need And then the hot-off-the-press
reasonable rate for private-sector to remember that every trade done news is that we’re launching an
corruption than for public-sector by an active investment manager Exchange-Traded Fund, the first in
corruption. Where there are people is typically with another active the world, linked to Bitcoin.
who must go to jail, they go to jail. manager. So one of them is saying
this thing is too expensive, the On to Bitcoin, then… What’s your
Let’s talk about a more reputable other one is saying it’s too cheap. take on cryptocurrency?
business. Sygnia built its reputation So, almost by definition, one of I have a slightly different take to
as a fintech disruptor specialising them is always wrong. Ultimately, my wife’s… There is obviously
in passive investment. How do you if there are only active managers convergence but I’m a little old-
define fintech? in the market, investors will, on school on a lot of things.
22 | THE OLD DIOCESANTHE INVESTOR
Are you worried that there’s no in ’79, I didn’t have particularly How do you see the role of Council?
inherent value in it? favourable feelings for the school. It’s very important to understand
I am worried to an extent, but then I wasn’t even a house prefect and that the school is run by the
you have to say, where’s the value I wasn’t involved with any major executive – the headmaster
in gold? That’s the analogy you sports. I was more the academic, and his team – and they do an
need to use. Bitcoin has become which wasn’t considered cool in absolutely brilliant job. The role
more of a commodity than a those days. In the lingo of the time, of the council generally is a
currency, so it’s an asset that’s the dreaded term “conch” would governance and oversight role.
held as a store of value. It’s still have applied to me. I spent a It’s to provide guidance where
an immature market so it’s very number of years away from South necessary. There are also a lot
volatile, but I think the volatility Africa, travelling extensively, so of functions that go into the
will stabilise over time. It’s going missed the earlier class reunions running of the school that are of
to go through a few more years of that were held. I first returned a specialist nature for which the
high-level volatility, very newsflow- to the school for our 20th skills are not in the executive.
driven; for example, when there’s anniversary reunion. It was only Those are typically dealt with
talk of a country wanting to once I became a parent and sent in the council sub-committees,
regulate or ban crytpocurrencies. my own sons to the school that I and the members of the sub-
I’m also wary of speculation. started coming back and became committees are more important
The prices are too volatile, and involved again. than the council at some level
there’s a lot of talking up the because a lot of the work is done
market by the crypto-evangelists Times have changed. Bishops seems in the sub-committees and there’s
when prices rise and then a lot of to put less emphasis on sporting or a lot of expertise in there. A critical
schadenfreude from detractors even academic success and is more sub-committee is Finance, and
when prices crash. There are also about encouraging boys to find their we’re privileged to draw on parents
too many cryptocurrencies. A few niche – their spike that they can and old boys with significant
will come to the top, probably the focus on. Do you agree? experience in that area. Buildings
original ones, particularly Ether It’s interesting talking about and grounds is another important
and Bitcoin. spikes. My oldest son got in to aspect, where we can draw on
What we’re offering as an ETF Columbia University, where he architects and building experts
is just a safer way of accessing, in intends to major in creative from our parents and old boys. The
this case, Bitcoin. When you have writing and computer science, amount of goodwill contributed
what is effectively a unit trust, you and when he was being advised by experts, often from competing
don’t need to have wallets and about the application process to businesses, coming together for
encryptions – all that sort of stuff Ivy League universities, the advice the good of the school is amazing.
is looked after from our side. was, you’ve got to find your spike
and demonstrate that spike to the This sounds like the way the Bishops
Bitcoin is, of course, a favourite admissions board. network should work, and perhaps
topic of ODs everywhere, which If you ask me, my vision and the OD Union hasn’t used it to its
brings us neatly back to your new intention as chairman is to build fullest advantage in the past. Would
position on the Council. Did you on this evolution at Bishops, you agree with that?
take a step back at Sygnia because and make sure there is room for I was on the OD committee for
you were asked to fill the position? each boy’s spike to be identified several years before giving up
No, the timing coincided. I and nurtured, so that they come my spot when I became Council
decided I wanted a more plural out of the school with that self- chairman, so I have some
lifestyle. And I knew Magda was confidence that comes from experience, and yes, I feel the
on this trajectory to drive Sygnia having a skill that’s acknowledged. traditional old-school network
to a new level. The invitation to The world is changing rapidly, of the past failed in many ways.
chair Council is not something and we need to ensure that our But when you take the same
you accept lightly. It’s a great children are properly equipped and concept and just reimagine it,
opportunity to give back to the future-proofed, with the right skills you realise how powerful it can
community, and I think you can to deal with the post 4th Industrial be. Many alumni of other schools
make a significant difference. The Revolution world. and associations have seen this,
funny thing is, when I left school and the ODU has made, and is
THE OLD DIOCESAN | 23now making, massive steps in that
direction. The mentoring initiative,
I think, is such a powerful one. I
was asked to mentor a couple of
guys and in both cases it was only
one or two meetings but I was
able, in that short period of time,
to hopefully give them some good
advice. In one instance, it needed
a ten-minute conversation to help
an OD at a crossroads in his career
– he’s in his late 20s – to make
a key decision. And it worked.
He got what he was after.
Simon with his Indonesian guides shortly after achieving great birding
You know money. A lot of the old success: a half-second sighting of a Sulawesi Pitta. There was no chance
boys look at the school, and think, of photographing the bird itself, so this shot is the trophy.
where does all the money go?
This is a very important topic, one
I feel strongly about, as I’m also
a trustee of the Bishops Trust. Bishops story. Which is where the see or photograph) and collecting
Our school fees by Cape Town Bishops Trust and the 175 goals instinct as I can spend many days
standards are very high, but by come in. We know that glossy focussing on finding a single tricky
international standards they’re brochures with pictures of new or iconic species. One family of
low. And we’re graduating boys buildings don’t work. We need to birds I actively seek out is the
at an international standard. We inspire people to give to something pittas, found mostly in south-
could raise the fees significantly, meaningful, with real legacy. And east Asia. Pittas are colourful
and still easily fill the school, and hopefully that’s the message that birds mostly found on the forest
then afford all the projects we we’re getting across. floor. Despite being extremely
want to do. But then we’d have I can assure you, as a parent colourful they are masters of
a more homogeneous group of of a boy now studying in the US, disguise. Only another birder
learners at the school, whereas the major US institutions are far would understand the sheer
the diverse student community more aggressive at canvassing for delight that I experienced earlier
that we have is what we want – donations and testimonials. this year when I managed a half-
it’s what we need to thrive. We second sighting of a Sulawesi
recognise that for some parents An important point to finish on – Pitta after three days of looking
the school fees aren’t that much you like birds… for it. It was nesting season and
but there is a significant group Yes! And it’s important to get the birds weren’t calling, but on
who are making huge personal the terminology right. I’m not an the third day one did call and we
sacrifices to send their kids to ornithologist, which is a scientist, scrambled through the rain forest
Bishops. And so we’ve got to set or a twitcher, which is a box trying to locate it from its call.
the fees at a level where, with ticker. I’m a birder, which is about Eventually, it popped out from
bursaries and scholarships, we getting out there and getting dirty behind a fallen tree, looked at me
can get that spectrum of talented and seeking out the birds. I ran and disappeared. Success!
pupils into the school. adventure trips in my twenties
This all means that our school so I’m very happy roughing it,
operates on a breakeven basis sleeping out, crawling through the Tim Richman is a publisher and author,
from a fees point of view. There’s a jungle of Panama or wherever. and editor of The Old Diocesan.
little left over for maintenance, but So, birding is really an excuse
there’s nothing for future building. to visit strange parts of the
And so we need to raise money world, where few other people go, This is an edited version of Simon’s
from the Bishops community, because birds are everywhere. It interview. Visit www.odunion.com for
from people who believe in the also satisfies my hunting (only to a fuller version.
24 | THE OLD DIOCESANTHE LEGEND
Never mind
the bollocks,
here’s
What do Bishops, a pheasant from the Philippines
and Johnny Rotten have in common? Turns out,
it’s a guy called Simon… By Brandon de Kock
G
oogle Simon Draper (1967F) Indeed, though our alma mater lays in London in 1971 looking for
and there’s a good chance claim to its fair share of local pop something to do before going back
you’ll stumble across a stars from the past few decades, to study more – so he contacted
headline reading, “Simon Draper: the reach and impact of Mr Draper one of the few connections he
A man with the world’s best is, shall we say, next level. had in the UK, a second cousin
collection of Aston Martins and the Having passed through our called Richard Branson. Now the
force behind the Palawan press.” hallowed halls and graduated with thing about Branson, as anyone
All of which is true, but fails to a very useful degree in English who’s worked near the Virgin
define the career of a Bishops boy and Politics from the University brand factory will tell you, is that
who can genuinely claim to have of Natal (as it was then known), his greatest talent is spotting and
dented the world as we know it. the 20-year-old Draper arrived surrounding himself with talent.
THE OLD DIOCESAN | 25In the case of Simon Draper, he an iconic record, but a pivotal
nailed it. Without much thought, moment in music history. Love ’em
he hired the young South African or hate ’em, Johnny Rotten, Sid
to manage Virgin Mail Order and Vicious and their supposed friends
set in motion a career that would changed the world.
last twenty long, fruitful and As the decade drew to a close,
formative years. Branson was itchy to expand
By all accounts, Branson is his empire and left Virgin Music
overtly and surprisingly non- in Draper’s hands; he ditched
musical. “You have to understand, his A&R cards, took over the
Richard knew zilch about music,” MD’s office and embarked on an
said Draper, reflecting on his astounding ten-year roller-coaster
career in 2017. “When he did ride of excitement and success.
Desert Island Discs we had to tell Virgin became home to acts like
him what records he liked!” OMD, Human League, Simple
The same could not be said for Minds and Culture Club and,
Draper, who was both passionate Branson’s real skill? Getting people through acquisition, Phil Collins
about and driven by the business. like Simon Draper to work for him. and Peter Gabriel. Groundbreaking,
And from the very beginning, stadium-filling, mega-acts.
hanging out at the first Virgin In 1991, with Draper officially a
Records store and getting his director of Virgin and chairman of
hands dirty, he developed a keen ’70s to the early ’80s, few would Virgin Records, and “mega-music-
sense of where the gaps were argue that Virgin was the coolest deals” defining the pecking order of
and how an independent label record label in the UK – maybe on the music industry, Virgin landed a
could carve its own path in an the planet. And, although Branson twin coup. First, they signed Janet
increasingly saturated market. could lay claim to many things, Jackson to a three-album deal
Virgin Records was catapulted that image was undoubtedly worth a reported $40 million, and
into the mainstream in 1973 on the thanks to Simon Draper. then they pulled off the ultimate
back of one of its first four albums, If the first five or six years move: signing the Rolling Stones
Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells. Quite were manic, they were nothing and their entre back catalogue
unlike anything before (and maybe compared with what was to come, from 1971. Although the details
since!), it was an instrumental mainly thanks to a band called were secret, $50 million was floated
epic and a blockbuster hit. Its the Sex Pistols and the punk around and it was clear that Virgin,
commercial success allowed revolution they led. Although the tiny little company started by
Draper and his team the the signing process was clumsy, two young cousins who didn’t even
freedom they needed to pursue Virgin finally released the band’s know each other, had become a
an aggressive and adventurous first, and only, studio album in major player in the music business.
signing policy – one that would 1977. Never Mind The Bollocks: Here’s Deals like that change the rules
define the label. And from the early The Sex Pistols remains not only and a year later EMI made Branson
Virgin released the Sex Pistols’ first, and only,
studio album in 1977. Never Mind The Bollocks:
Here Come The Sex Pistols remains not only
an iconic record, but a pivotal moment in
music history.
26 | THE OLD DIOCESANYou can also read
