Bermans’ grit fuelled by painful childhoods

“I have no doubt that the immense hardships that we faced created the hunger and the fire to succeed” were the words brothers Paul and Saul Berman shared when accepting the Investec Business Leadership Award at the 2026 Investec Jewish Achiever Awards. 

The award recognises their decades in construction and property development. For them, it’s been a remarkable business partnership after a childhood marked by loss, separation, and financial hardship. 

Their father, a property developer and attorney, died when Paul was five and Saul was just two-and-a-half. Because their mother couldn’t afford to raise both boys under one roof, they spent part of their childhood apart, but their bond remained strong. “Our story is one of resilience, determination, unequivocal trust, and an unbreakable bond forged in the face of adversity,” Paul said. “We started with nothing, limited hope, and scarce resources. All we had was a fierce determination, a resilient spirit, and an unyielding fortitude.” 

Those early experiences shaped their approach to business. “We used the pain as fuel, not as an excuse,” Paul said. “The road was tough, the hours long, and the learning curve steep. But through every hardship, we stood by each other’s side, finding strength in our bond, and drawing inspiration from each other.” 

Their careers initially took different directions: Paul studied law, while Saul pursued construction, developing his technical expertise despite struggling with dyslexia. In 1994, Saul invited Paul to join his business after securing a contract to upgrade Cape Town International Airport ahead of the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Their complementary skills transformed the company, with turnover increasing from R3.5 million to R35 million in their first year together. Over the following decades, they expanded into property development, constructing thousands of homes across the Western Cape. 

Saul’s dyslexia has shaped his outlook on education and the value of practical skills. Choosing to speak from the heart rather than read his prepared notes, he joked that artificial intelligence had arrived too late for people like him. “Dyslexic people are born with a mind that can see things in 3D,” he said, emphasising the importance of human creativity and the ability to visualise and build. “You need power, you need ventilation to cool your systems down. We just need each other.” 

His belief in the value of tradespeople has become central to the brothers’ ambition to transform technical education in South Africa. Saul outlined their efforts to introduce practical subjects into schools, allowing pupils to consider vocational pathways from Grade 9 and study trade-related matric subjects in later grades. 

“We plan to build the biggest educational foundation in the history of South Africa,” Saul said. His vision includes expanding skills training for children who may struggle in conventional academic environments, ensuring that pupils with different abilities can access opportunities within the same education system. “Please help us. Join us and change the South African landscape,” he urged, calling for support to create employment opportunities for young people completing their training. 

For Saul, the foundation of everything they have achieved remains his relationship with Paul. Describing his brother as his “lifelong partner” and “best friend”, he reflected on a business partnership built without formal agreements. “No contract, handshake, trust. I trusted him,” he said. Having their sons at the ceremony made the occasion particularly meaningful, as the brothers looked towards the next generation of their family and business. 

Paul shared that appreciation for their partnership. “We had no idea where this journey would take us, but through it all, we had something particularly special, the privilege of building a business together as brothers.” 

Beyond their commercial success, the brothers have maintained a commitment to giving back, with Paul having spent decades involved in Jewish welfare. His acceptance speech also reflected on the challenges facing Jewish communities worldwide. Having recently returned from Israel, where he attended the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he spoke about the importance of standing proudly as Jews in the face of rising antisemitism. 

“We must never lower our heads in the face of antisemitism. We must stand taller, hold our heads higher, and remain relentless in our resolve,” Paul said. “We must never allow hatred to define us, fear to silence us, or prejudice to diminish our extraordinary contribution to humanity. Our response to darkness must be light. Our response to hatred must be humanity.” 

For Paul, business leadership and community responsibility are closely connected, requiring the courage to act when others hesitate and the compassion to make a difference wherever possible. His gratitude extended to their families, colleagues, and Investec, whose partnership with the brothers has spanned more than three decades. 

Despite their achievements, neither brother considers their work complete. As Paul reflected, “We aren’t extraordinary. We’re ordinary brothers doing extraordinary things.” Saul was equally focused on the future, telling those gathered, “We’re just beginning.”