Dr Iqbal Survé shares insights on business and philanthropy during his latest book launch

Dr Iqbal Survé, the chairperson of the Sekunjalo Group, has once again taken time out of his busy schedule to share insights from his newly released book, A Shared Future for Humanity.

On Thursday, Survé, who has embarked on his third leg of his book tour with the launch at the Wanderers Cricket Stadium in Illovo, shared some of the key moments that have shaped his life in business and philanthropy.

He also went deeper than usual as he shared both personal milestones and professional achievements within the Survé family empire, which has endured severe political and professional turmoil.

However, he did not stop there; he further expressed his gratitude to the many individuals who have played pivotal roles in the success of his diverse business interests, spanning e-commerce, telecommunications, media, IT, and other industries.

As part of the tour that began in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg, the intimate session drew many Sekunjalo employees eager to hear from their leader about the motivations behind his writing. The event served not only as a book launch but also as a moment of reflection on the shared challenges and values that define both Survé's journey and that of South Africa as a whole.

Commenting on the inspiration behind the book, Survé revealed that he employed a rapid process that continued to evolve over a period of two months before the book was ready for public consumption.

"This is not an autobiography, but a writing project that started and changed every week, and by the end of November, it had completely changed. However, all I can say, having written this book, is that if you want to get something done, just go ahead and do it. It is that simple. Of course, the book was supposed to have been a description of our family business, but the book has changed so much since we started it in October,'' he shared.

Spanning 250 pages and featuring over 100 iconic images, the book offers a glimpse into the lives of prominent local and international business leaders. Through his narrative, Dr Survé invites readers into his world, weaving personal anecdotes with broader commentary on humanity and the future of business.

Among the many highlights and crucial moments for Dr Survé, which he shares in his book, is his many visits to Robben Island, which he said changed after his first visit to the island with his family recently. He revealed that he found the previous visits with political activists and celebrities to have failed to help him appreciate the true extent of the brutality of the prison and how it treated leaders such as Nelson Mandela and other leaders of the struggle against apartheid.

"Over the years, I have visited Robben Island with political activists, celebrities, and actresses, and became seasick. I found that these visits kind of romanticised the Robben Island experience. However, on my last visit, I found the experience sobering as it was the first time I got to understand the brutality of the place," he added.

The former medical doctor-turned businessman, and a prominent figure in the South African philanthropy scene, has attributed much of his charitable drive to the unwavering support and inspiration drawn from his family, particularly his mother.

"My mother always challenged me to help those who are less fortunate. She kept me on the straight and narrow. She really did her best to keep us focused on what matters," he added

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za