Full Name: Andile Africa

Position and Company Name: CEO of the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC)

Main Activity of the Company: Development and transformation of the automotive industry in South Africa into a globally competitive industry. Our pillars are retention, growth, innovation, transformation and people, and our flagship projects include the Automotive Supplier Park, incubation programmes with original-equipment manufacturers, township hubs and the skills development programme

Date and Place of Birth: August 1, 1969, Bloemfontein

Schools and Tertiary Education: BEng (Hons), University of Birmingham, UK, 1994; master’s degree in supply chain management, University of Pretoria, 2002; several certificates that I have acquired in my quest to keep myself abreast of the dynamics of my field, including one in the German language

First Job: Industrial engineer at Transnet Engineering in 1995

Career History Prior to Current Position: Over the past 20 years, I have worked in various positions in the automotive industry in production, logistics, project management and fleet management. I worked at several companies, such as Mercedes-Benz South Africa, Fleet Africa, Denel and Armscor, and ran my own company for ten years. I was head of operations for fleet and asset management at Bidvest before joining the AIDC earlier this year

Size of First Pay Packet: R3 700 a month

First Job with Present Group: I joined the AIDC in February 2023 as the CEO

Value of Assets under Your Control: R827-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: There are 128 people in the employ of the AIDC

Management Style: Consultative and decisive

Personal Best Achievement: Contributing towards my children’s careers and personal development

Professional Best Achievement: I ran my own business for ten years

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My older brother

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: There have been different people at different times who have helped, guided and inspired me throughout my career

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Malcolm Gladwell

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Sipho Madanda and Aluwani Ramabulana

Philosophy of Life: Always see the good in people until they prove themselves otherwise

Biggest Ever Opportunity: There is an opportunity to take advantage of the current energy crisis by engaging stakeholders in the automotive sector to provide lasting solutions

Hope for the Future: To see the automotive industry transformed from ownership to management

Favourite Reading: I enjoy reading books by Malcom Gadwell

Favourite TV Programme: Black Mirror on Netflix

Favourite Food/Drink: You can never go wrong with a good chicken curry

Favourite Music: Jazz and deep house

Favourite Website: To this day, I still prefer radio

Hobbies: Cycling and golf

Car: Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Pets: My dog Leo, a Golden Retriever

Favourite Other South African Company: Capitec

Favourite Foreign Company: Tesla

Married: To Luxolo Ndlazi-Africa

Children: Obakeng, 31; Kamogelo, 26; Khumo, 23; Humile, 18; Lulodwa, 16