Billionaire Christo Wiese’s advice to people staying in South Africa

South African billionaire businessman Christo Wiese said the country has great potential and offers excellent opportunities to people who stay there.

Wiese shares his views during a Netwerk24 interview with Mia Spies at the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordvees.

The billionaire said very few South Africans recognise how lucky the country is. It survived many challenges, including the Anglo-Boer War and Apartheid.

He said the government of national unity (GNU), made possible by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership, once again brings hope to the country.

“Even people who were pessimistic before the elections changed their views and realised South Africa remains the best country in the world,” he said.

He said all countries have problems and that many of South Africa’s problems are easier to solve than many others.

“It is the right thing to be positive about South Africa. Nobody could ever convince me that being negative is better than being positive,” he said.

Wiese added that there is no better place to live in the world than in the Western Cape, where you can live a great life and make a contribution to South Africa.

He also commented on people considering leaving South Africa, saying he does not judge them—at least not publicly.

However, he said South Africa has tremendous opportunities for people who decide to stay and work hard.

He explained that people’s perceptions of South Africa are highly influenced by what they hear from their family and friends, and there is no shortage of negativity.

However, many positive aspects of the country do not receive the same airtime as the negative aspects.

Wiese added that there is one caveat, which he told his son to consider before deciding to stay or leave South Africa.

“You have to accept, even if you are the smartest man in the country, you will not be able to become president because of the colour of your skin,” he said.

“If you can accept that you are essentially a second-class citizen in your own country because of your race, it is a great country.”

Wiese said many people became much richer while staying in South Africa, pointing to the country’s tremendous opportunities.

Apart from benefitting personally, he said people who gained wealth over the decades have an opportunity to give back and make a difference.

He referenced the former banker Chris Liebenberg, who served as South Africa’s finance minister from 19 September 1994 to 4 April 1996.

Liebenberg told him that it was the right thing to do for those who benefited from the country in the past to give back.

“That is the right attitude. We now have an opportunity to make a contribution to South Africa,” Wiese said.

When asked whether it is easier for him to be optimistic because he is a billionaire, Wiese said it is not a fair characterisation.

“On the one hand, it is easier to be positive when you have a big bank balance. However, on the other hand, rich people are petrified of losing their wealth,” he said.

“I was optimistic long before I was a billionaire. I was positive when we started the business and when we really struggled,” he said.

Read: South Africa’s diamond billionaire – worth R170 billion