Even those who leave have left their hearts in SA, and amazing place to live.
A meeting of the Anglo American executive committee in 1977. Anti- clockwise far right: Gavin Relly, Julian Ogilvie Thompson and others. Picture: ANGLO AMERICAN
I think it’s important that someone as powerful as he once was — chair of both De Beers and the Anglo American Corporation — who could have lived out a glamorous retirement in whatever corner of the world he chose, Johannesburg. Amid the lamentation for people leaving it is equally surprising how many do not leave. JOT didn’t. Basil Hersov, who took the huge Anglovaal empire over from his father, still lives, vigorously, in Johannesburg. He is 97 this month. Harry Oppenheimer died at home in Johannesburg, and his son Nicky and daughter Mary Slack still live in the same family spread in Parktown.
For me, the message of emigration is that being a South African matters. I perfectly understand the desire to leave. If you’re 43 and specialised, with a young family, you only have one chance to build a new life abroad. Obviously, if my life were threatened I would have to think about leaving. But until then, no. I like it here for the same reason, I suspect, that JOT did. Johannesburg, for a start, is still an amazing place to live in. The weather is outstanding. SA wines are always excellent and so is the company.
I briefly bumped into a family of South Africans the other day who now live in the UK. They were visiting, one said with half a smile, to make sure they’d made the right decision six years ago. I asked what the verdict was and he said it was still out.
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