Iqbal Survé

Add links
Extended-protected article
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Iqbal Survé
Born (1963-02-12) February 12, 1963 (age 61)
Cape Town
NationalitySouth African
OccupationChairman of Sekunjalo Investment Holdings
Years active1996-present
Websiteiqbalsurve.com

Iqbal Survé is a South African entrepreneur, billionaire, medical doctor, and self-professed philanthropist.[1] He is the Chairman of Sekunjalo Investment Holdings,[2] a diversified investment firm based in Cape Town, and the Chairman of Independent Media,[3] one of South Africa's largest media companies. Survé is a controversial figure linked to Jacob Zuma[4][5][6] and has been accused of editorial interference across Independent Media titles.[7][8][9][10] He has also reportedly failed to repay loans from the government-controlled Public Investment Corporation and has been accused of using pensioners' money to fund his companies, his lifestyle and his property portfolio.[11][12][13][14][15][16]

Early life

Survé was born on 12 February 1963[17] in Cape Town, South Africa. Survé has two sisters and is the middle child. He grew up in the Cape Town suburb of Kenilworth. In 1985 Survé's father put the house on auction and the family moved to Lansdowne, a coloured designated area in Cape Town.[citation needed]

Controversies

Claims of a relationship with Nelson Mandela

Survé claims a close relationship with Nelson Mandela,[18] and in 2014, a Leadership Platform article in Business Report (a paper owned by Survé's Sekunjalo group) stated that Survé had been Mandela's doctor "on and off Robben Island".[19] These claims have been disputed on various grounds.[20]

Mandela's personal assistant of 18 years, Zelda la Grange, said she had no knowledge of any relationship between Survé and Mandela.[21][22]

Survé claims that he was among a group of doctors assigned to accompany Mandela upon his release from

anti-apartheid activists who were injured during protest action in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.[23][25] These claims have likewise been disputed.[26][27]

Claims of a relationship with Ahmed Kathrada

Survé also claimed to be mentored by Mandela's fellow prisoner and anti-apartheid stalwart Ahmed Kathrada, who confirmed in 2017 that he had accompanied Survé and his family to Robben Island a few years prior.[28]

Kathrada denied having been a mentor and stated that he "did not know the man [Survé] personally".[22]

Termination of banking services

Several banks, including

Absa, FNB, Nedbank, Investec, Standard Bank and Mercantile Bank refuse to do business with any company tied to Survé and his Sekunjalo Investment Holdings. 28 more banks and representative offices of foreign banks are boycotting Survé and his companies. The biggest South African banks cited the Mpati Commission findings of the "malfeasance" of Survé's group.[29][30]

Divorce settlement

In August 2016, African News Agency (ANA), a Sekunjalo subsidiary for which Survé served as executive chairman made a payment of ZAR 25 million to Survé's personal bank account.[31] In response to a query from Nedbank, Aziza Amod, Survé's sister and a Sekunjalo executive who serves on various boards of Sekunjalo subsidiary companies, referred to the payment as a "spouse settlement".[32] Nedbank was concerned as to why ANA had settled Survé's divorce settlement, to which Survé responded that his sister misstated the reason for the transaction and that ANA did not settle "any divorce settlement". Instead he claimed that the payment was an inter-company loan between ANA and Sekunjalo Investment Holdings. Court documents indicated that Nedbank was not satisfied with the response as the payment was paid to Survé's personal account and not that of Sekunjalo Investment Holdings.[29]

Payments to politicians

Survé has come under fire for making payments to a number of politicians and politically exposed persons.[33] An amount of R 30 000 was paid to controversial former ANC spokesperson Carl Niehaus, which according to Survé's sister was a loan due to financial distress experienced by Niehaus.

In 2018, Survé's asset management company, 3 Laws Capital, paid R 200 000 to former cabinet minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson.[29] Joemat-Pettersson claimed that the payment was a loan which she had repaid. Joemat-Pettersson was previously linked to Survé, having irregularly awarded an R 800 million marine services tender to Sekunjalo, which resulted in her fall from grace.[34]

The payment to Joemat-Pettersson came a few months after Sekunjalo subsidiary AYO Technology Solutions received a R 4.3 billion cash investment from the state-controlled Public Investment Corporation of which R 870 million was advanced to 3 Laws Capital.[35] Joemat-Pettersson died on 5 June 2023 and an inquest into the circumstances of her death was opened by the South African Police Services following allegations of attempted bribery.[36]

Qatargate scandal

Qatargate scandal. According to court documents, Survé's foundation was claimed to be the "most important donor".[37] Survé admitted to having made a donation of ZAR 4.5 million to Fight Impunity but denied any wrongdoing on his part.[38]

Sekunjalo Investments

Main article: Sekunjalo Investments

Survé left medicine in 1997 to found Sekunjalo Investments, with the aim of investing and assisting Black-owned businesses, and in 1999 listed it on the

Independent News & Media.[39] The purchase was largely funded by a loan from the government-owned Public Investment Corporation which manages the Government Employees Pension Fund.[40] By 2018 a large proportion of the Public Investment Corporation's investment in Sekunjalo was reportedly written off[41] while Sekunjalo claimed that they had reached an amicable agreement with the PIC for a debt-for-shares swop.[42] The PIC has since applied to liquidate Sekunjalo Independent Media.[11]

International activities

Survé was chairman of the World Economic Forum's Global Growth Companies (GGC) advisory board and as vice-chairman of the Global Agenda Council on Emerging Multinationals.[43]

Survé was the South African chairman of the South Africa-Saudi Arabia Business Council[44] as well as a patron of the South Africa-Italy Summit.[45][46]

Survé was appointed chairperson of the BRICS Business Council in 2017, in a role to oversee the strengthening of South Africa's ties with the East amidst political uncertainty in Western powers.[47]

From left: Mandla Mkhwanazi, Javed Malik, Slauzy Mogami, Dr Iqbal Survé, Lizeka Matshekga, Mvuleni Qhena, Irvindra Naidoo and George Sebulela, pose for a photograph after meeting in Sandton, Gauteng.
Dr Iqbal Survé (fourth from left) with members of the BRICS Business Council in Sandton, in June 2018.

Survé was also appointed co-chair of the BRICS Media Forum, a body formed to coordinate and cooperate in telling stories of developing nations via media organisations of

BRICS countries.[48]

Survé was appointed to the board of the Belt and Road News Network Council linked to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that was initiated by China’s President Xi Jinping to push for infrastructure-driven investment spanning across Africa, Asia and Europe.[49] Survé serves as the Chairman of the Belt and Road Fund for Africa.[50]

Recognition

In 2006, the JSE-listed Sekunjalo Investments (now AEEI) led by Survé received the Financial Mail Top Empowerment Companies Award. Sekunjalo’s overall BEE score came in at 76,44%, while its preferential procurement spend stood at 10,5% and economic interest at 54%. For employment equity it achieved 9,1%.[51]

Survé was awarded the Sakeleier van die Jaar (Business Leader of the Year) in 2007 jointly by Afrikaans newspaper Die Burger and the Kaapse Sakekamer, a network managed by the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut which historically supported Afrikaner businesses.[52][53][54]

Survé served as a member of the Governors Committee of the UCT Foundation Trust whose role was envisaged as to advise on fundraising matters. He also served as Chair of the Advisory Board of UCT’s GSB.[55]

In 2013, Survé was named by London-based New African Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans in business, citing his achievements as a "campaigner for freedom, medical doctor and entrepreneur".[56]

In June 2023, Survé was honoured with Russian Foreign Ministry's medal for cooperation, presented to him by Sergey Lavrov in Cape Town. Lavrov recognised Survé for his contribution to BRICS.[57]

Philanthropy

In July 2021, Survé's Pretoria News and IOL published a series of fake news articles about a woman giving birth to ten babies in a single pregnancy with multiple requests for donations.[58] Survé himself pledged a donation of one million rands to the supposed parents of the babies despite there being no evidence of the woman being pregnant or giving birth.[59] Survé flew in the supposed father of the babies as well as Pretoria News editor Piet Rampedi who fabricated the story from Gauteng to Cape Town, where a joint press briefing, exclusive to journalists from Survé's media entities, was held at Survé's upmarket Sekunjalo head office at the V&A Waterfront.[60] The story was debunked by the BBC as well as Independent Media's own ombud and the Public Protector, however, Survé maintained that the babies did exist and had been trafficked but did not provide any evidence to back his claims.[61][62][63][64]

Following the

2023 earthquake in Türkiye, Survé Philanthropies donated R15 million worth of aid in the form of tents, clothing, blankets, gas heaters and other items. The aid was handed over to the Turkish Consul General in Cape Town, Sinan Yeşildağ on 14 April 2023.[65] The donation followed a "large advertisement" by the Turkish Embassy in Survé's Independent Media titles. Survé was criticised for making this donation at a time when Independent Media had consistently failed to pay staff their full salaries.[66]

Survé has been criticised for repeatedly claiming that he donates most of his money while Independent Media interns "are paid a pittance and sometimes not paid for months on end".[67]

Further reading

  • Dasnois, Alide (2019). Paper Tiger: Iqbal Survé and the downfall of Independent Newspapers. Cape Town: Tafelberg.
    ISBN 978-0-62408-717-5
    .

References

  1. ^ Stammers, Robbie (5 December 2017). "Is there a Doctor Tech Billionaire in the House". FastCompany South Africa. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Dr Iqbal Survé". Sekunjalo Investment Holdings. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Dr Iqbal Survé | Our people". Independent Media. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  4. ^ Crotty, Ann (13 March 2020). "PIC and Sekunjalo: a bizarre, value-destroying relationship". Moneyweb. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  5. ^ Pauw, Jacques. "The breathtaking 'revelations' of Survé's media mob". Vrye Weekblad (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  6. ^ Hogg, Alec (25 July 2022). "Lies and secrets alive and well in South Africa". BizNews.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  7. ^ Haffajee, Ferial. "Ferial Haffajee: Iqbal Survé and how not to lead". Business. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Dasnois papers: Survé made rants and threats". News24. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  9. ^ Davis, Rebecca (4 November 2019). "Paper Tiger: When media transformation is a farce". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  10. ^ Dasnois, Alide. "EXTRACT 'Paper Tiger' by Alide Dasnois and Chris Whitfield". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  11. ^ a b Cronje, Jan. "State asset manager applies to liquidate Sekunjalo Independent Media". Business. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Iqbal Survé's ritzy Silo apartment buying spree". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  13. ^ Hogg, Alec (18 February 2019). "Ed Herbst: The 'New Dawn' shines more brightly". BizNews.com. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  14. ^ Cronje, Jan. "Union in court to get R300m back from Iqbal Survé-linked Sekunjalo Independent Media". Business. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  15. ^ Paton, Carol (1 November 2018). "Iqbal Surve fails to make debt repayment to PIC". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  16. ^ amaBhungane, Dewald van Rensburg for (29 August 2021). "Dr Dan Matjila's secret deal to make Iqbal Survé's R700m debt to PIC disappear". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  17. ^ a b Hill, Linda A; Stecker, Emily (April 2007). "Dr. Iqbal Survé at Sekunjalo Investment Group (A): Harvard Business School Case 407-019" (Revised March 2008 ed.). Harvard Business School. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  18. ^ a b "Dr Iqbal Survé". Sekunjalo Holdings. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  19. ^ Groenewald, Adriaan; Mnyandu, Ellis (13 February 2014). "The man who wants to change the world". Business Report. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  20. ^ Herbst, Ed (5 November 2019). "The Paper Tiger's echo-chamber roar – Iqbal Survé laid bare". BizNews.
  21. ^ Pauw, Jacques. "The dangerous fantasy world of Iqbal Survé and his Independent minions". Vrye Weekblad (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  22. ^ a b Bell, Terry. "Fact checking Iqbal Survé's bold bio leaves more questions". Business. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  23. ^ a b EPISODE 484| Dr Survé on Nelson Mandela, Mainstream Media, Banks, Cyril Ramaphosa, BRICS , Money, retrieved 25 August 2023
  24. ^ Mashigo, Lehlohonolo (25 August 2023). "Dr Iqbal Survé chills with podcaster MacG". The Star. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  25. ^ Mikva, Keren (4 March 2015). "12 Things You Didn't Know About Media Mogul Iqbal Survé". Moguldom. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  26. ^ Bell, Terry (4 August 2017). "That "other Mandela doctor" is at it again". News24. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  27. ^ Herbst, Ed (27 July 2017). "Burying the Iqbal Survé "struggle doctor" myth". BizNews. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  28. ^ "For the record". Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  29. ^ a b c van Rensburg, Dewald (18 February 2022). "Strike three: Is Iqbal Survé finally unbankable?". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  30. ^ Cronje, Jan. "Standard Bank also dropping Iqbal Survé's Sekunjalo group as a client". Business. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  31. ^ "How Iqbal Survé's companies paid Niehaus, Pandor's daughter, ANC MPs – and explained it away". www.polity.org.za. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  32. ^ Maughan, Karyn. "How Iqbal Survé's companies paid Niehaus, Pandor's daughter, ANC MPs – and explained it away". News24. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  33. ^ Maughan, Karyn. "How Iqbal Survé's companies paid Niehaus, Pandor's daughter, ANC MPs – and explained it away". News24. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  34. ^ Madonsela, Thuli (December 2013). ""Report on an investigation into allegations of improper and irregular awarding tender to Sekunjalo Marine Services Consortium (SMSC) by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries"".
  35. ^ "Director fails to halt publication of JSE censure that includes R2m fine – Moonstone Information Refinery". 7 September 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  36. ^ Gerber, Karyn Maughan and Jan. "Police open inquest docket after Joemat-Pettersson's death". News24. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  37. ^ Cohen, Tim (21 December 2022). "Iqbal Survé's Sekunjalo Development Foundation linked to EU scandal". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  38. ^ Sekunjalo (16 February 2023). "Aitj fight impunity | belgio". Sekunjalo Investment Holdings. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  39. ^ "Sekunjalo finalises INMSA purchase". iol.co.za Website. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  40. Rand Daily Mail
    . Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  41. ^ de Vos, Dirk (8 January 2019). "GEPF's R1bn Independent write-off, part of a bigger, Survé-sized problem". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  42. ^ Mahlangu, Sifiso. "PIC move on Sekunjalo Independent Media 'an attack on media and black people'". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  43. ^ "Iqbal Survé". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  44. ^ "SA, Saudi Arabia explore business opportunities | SAnews". www.sanews.gov.za. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  45. ^ "SA-IT-Summit-General-Presentation". The European House - Ambrosetti. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  46. ^ "South Africa-Italy Summit opens in Cape Town". www.agi.it. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  47. ISSN 0971-8257
    . Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  48. ^ "Calls for BRICS media to tell the story of developing countries | SAnews". www.sanews.gov.za. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  49. ^ Dr. Iqbal Survé discusses the Belt and Road initiative, retrieved 26 August 2023
  50. ^ OBOReurope (18 July 2019). "A New Belt and Road Fund for Africa". OBOReurope. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  51. ^ "Sekunjalo snaps up top BEE award". The Mail & Guardian. 8 March 2006. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  52. ^ "Survé wins business leader award". www.news.uct.ac.za. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  53. ^ "Sakebanket". Kaapstad Sakekamer. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  54. ^ "Agtergrond". Kaapstad Sakekamer. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  55. ^ "Iqbal Surve dumps UCT over 'lip service'". The Mail & Guardian. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  56. ^ african, New (25 November 2013). "New African Magazine 100 Most Influential Africans - Business". New African Magazine. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  57. ^ Felix, Jason. "Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, presents medal to Iqbal Survé, the 'legend'". News24. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  58. ^ Davis, Rebecca (29 October 2021). "Revealed: Independent Media's internal report on Piet Rampedi's decuplets story found it was a hoax and demanded an apology". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  59. ^ Stone, Jasmine (11 June 2021). "Iqbal Survé Claims He's Given R1 Million To That Dad Of 10". 2oceansvibe News | South African and international news. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  60. ^ "Dad of 10 gets R1 million". www.dailyvoice.co.za. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  61. ^ "Claim that SA woman gave birth to 10 babies false". BBC News. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  62. ^ Coetzee, Earl (31 December 2022). "Tembisa decuplets hoax put to rest: Public Protector finds no evidence of babies' birth". The Citizen. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  63. ^ Charles, Marvin. "Tembisa 10: Public Protector finds claims mom gave birth to decuplets 'unsubstantiated'". News24. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  64. ^ Charles, Tebogo Monama and Marvin. "FACT CHECK | What really happened to the Tembisa 10? Why Independent Media's claims just don't hold up". News24. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  65. ^ Majiba, Ntsika (15 April 2023). "Sekunjalo Group and Survé Philanthropies donate R15 million to earthquake survivors in Türkiye". Weekend Argus. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  66. ^ "LETTER: Sekunjalo's squeeze on staff". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  67. ^ Tilburg, Linda van (8 April 2019). "Has Iqbal Survé perjured himself at the Mpati commission? - Ed Herbst". BizNews.com. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iqbal_Survé&oldid=1206534853"