Andries Kotzee
If someone came to you tomorrow with R100m to invest in just one company, which would it be?
My own. If that’s not an option, I’ll suggest Alphabet (Google). You get a lot of diversified income streams in one company.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Writing. The pen is mightier than the sword.
What was your first-ever job?
I was a waiter at Mike’s Kitchen.
If you could fix one thing in SA today, what would it be?
South Africans’ propensity to litter. And we can all stop — for free.
What’s the best investment you’ve ever made?
Apart from relationships, education and my career? Investing in global property in March 2009.
What was your worst investment mistake?
Investing in Brainware in the late 1990s. For some time it was also the best investment but I got greedy.
What’s your favourite song?
It’s like asking which is my favourite day of the week — I like all of them. So I investigated this, as one would expect from a professional analyst, and the song on my playlist that I’ve listened to most is “Bring me to Life” by Evanescence.
On what occasion do you lie?
When I am tired and can’t run, walk, stand or sit any more.
How much was your first pay cheque and what did you do with it?
R3,627. I deposited it into my Volkskas account — my budget was not going to be funded in any other way.
What was your last purchase?
Dog food.
Name a place you’ve been to that lived up to the hype.
Cancún, Mexico. And London — I love the place.
Do you own bitcoin? And why?
No. I also don’t invest in gold or play the lottery. Bitcoin does not pay an income (either interest or dividend) so we view it as a type of money or currency rather than an asset which produces future income.
If you found a lottery ticket tomorrow that had won $100m, what would you do with it?
Frame it — that would illustrate a lot of self-discipline. Given that even my iron will is not strong enough for that, I’ll invest it in my own company. And probably buy a Mini Cooper for my wife and a Lego set for each of my two boys.