Community – the gold thread in ‘Mzansi Strong’

“Mzansi hero” Mpumelelo Mhlongo won gold at the Summer Paralympics in Paris in 2024, running 100m in 11.12 seconds, only two seconds slower than Usain Bolt, the greatest sprinter of all time. 

He is also doing his PhD in chemical engineering, and works in Investec’s multi-asset structuring team, an extraordinary list of achievements for anyone, let alone someone born with a clubfoot and financial disadvantage. 

But this Investec-sponsored athlete believes that success is nothing if it’s not harnessed to build the community and make life happier for those around him. 

Mhlongo was speaking at the Investec Jewish Achiever Award Business Breakfast at Investec in Sandton on 31 October. 

“Circumstance is a reality that we choose to forge,” Mhlongo said of his almost inhuman rise above challenges, including discrimination from family members for being disabled; going from academic underachiever to win a scholarship at Kearsney College; and making its top rugby and soccer team. 

At the pinnacle of his performance at the Paris Paralympics, Mhlongo said, “I wondered why 80 000 people were screaming my name – I’m not that important – then realised the Springbok rugby team was there as well. But there’s no pressure that isn’t a privilege.” 

Among other achievements, Mhlongo was named Sportsman of the Year with a Disability” at the SA Sports Awards for the second consecutive year. He credits the “abundance and tough love” of his mother, Lungi Charity Mthembu, for his success and philanthropy. “She taught me not to limit myself nor see my achievements as mine alone,” he says, “to question how our achievements change the reality of others; and to do something every day to make someone smile.” 

The excuse of disadvantage is relevant in South Africa, Mhlongo says, but like his mother, who said, “So what?” in response to his sense of disadvantage, he questions how it changes anything. Talent is irrelevant, he says, it’s all about coaching, and “it takes a village to change things”. 

Investec Jewish Achiever Awards Chairperson Howard Sackstein, and Cumesh Moodliar, chief executive of Investec Bank Limited, elaborated on the notion of individual heroism built on community, and the power of entrepreneurship and moral leadership to rebuild South Africa. 

Sackstein referenced the “five Jewish boys from Benoni” who had the vision and drive to build Investec into a global powerhouse; as well as legendary previous Jewish Achiever Award winners who built businesses, philanthropy, creativity, and provided moral leadership. 

It’s this kind of communal force that can realise the remarkable potential Johannesburg has and turn it into “Mzansi Strong” – the theme of this year’s awards – he said. 

Investec’s sponsorship of the awards was a “home coming”, Sackstein said, as the bank sponsored the awards on their founding 26 years ago. “Finally, we’ve come home to a partner who shares the values and morals of our community.” 

Eight hundred and eighteen nominations; 87 interviews; 37 judges; and 10 555 public votes later, South African Jews should be proud of their place and contribution to this country, Sackstein said. He pointed out that this year’s awards include 13 new winners, who join legends like Adrian Gore; Johnny Clegg; Albie Sachs; Sol Kerzner; Pieter-Dirk Uys; Jane Raphaely; and Arthur Chaskalson. 

“Hold your heads up high,” he said. “We create the role models that the rest of this country should be emulating.” 

Moodliar said Investec’s support of the Achiever Awards was about “doing the right thing” in tune with the bank’s founders’ sense of moral responsibility and entrepreneurial DNA. 

South Africa – and Mzansi’s – renewal must come from citizens and entrepreneurs, not government, he said, praising the Jewish community’s contribution to post-Apartheid South Africa, professional services, and corporate South Africa. “The answers are going to come from ordinary South Africans, entrepreneurs who fix water, infrastructure, education, and healthcare.” 

There were signs of renewed confidence in South Africa from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, Moodliar said, based on our Constitution; rule of law despite “awkward moments”; fiscal surplus and low inflation; strengthening rand; and free media. However, enormous corruption at senior government level and Johannesburg’s reputation for being a “failing city with homeless traffic wardens” make one “want to laugh and cry at the same time – but it shows these things are fixable”. 

“The future is African, and we’re in a fortunate position to take advantage of that,” said Chris Holdsworth, Investec Chief Investment Strategist. He highlighted Africa’s long-term potential based on its “demographic dividend” – the fact that it’s almost the only continent with a growing population. 

He cited United Nations figures that show fertility rates dropping below (population) replacement level in 15 years in most parts of the globe, with Africa as the exception. Rapidly declining populations create a crisis in funding “entitlement economies, which in some European countries represent 600% of gross domestic product”, and a rapidly ageing population. 

“The one difference happens to be here. Africa will deal with this in only 50 years’ time. 

“The next few decades will be defined by education, where we’re going to see a huge amount of investment over the next 20 to 30 years,” he said. Similarly, healthcare across the globe. “Every single country that’s seen their population percentage over the age of 65 grow by 20%, has seen their healthcare sector outperform the parent index, without exception.” 

Our population growth creates opportunities for infrastructure development and goods and services, not to mention the need for labour in the rest of the world. “But if we don’t get it right, we face huge unemployment and risk,” Holdsworth said. 

“Despite global turbulence, Africa’s long-term opportunity is clear,” Holdsworth said. “There’s a huge opportunity just north of our borders. The path to get there is going to be lumpy, but we must keep our eye on the prize.”