Vusi Khanyile

Award-winning diversified, family-owned, holistic farming business involved in various parts of the Agri value chain. We adopt and apply innovative technologies and practices while at the same time initiating community development and transformation initiatives that make a difference in the lives of our employees and local communities. Afrikan Farms seeks to make a positive contribution to the creation of a healthier farming ecosystem by adopting sound environmental practices in the pursuit of a sustainable African agriculture business model.

Having persuaded key individuals that an investment fund should be set up to finance community projects, I helped to establish Thebe Investment Corporation in 1992. A community activist for most of my adult life, I participated in numerous development programmes and community-based organisations. I have served as director on a number of listed and unlisted companies, and currently serve on various boards of companies such as Shell SA Refinery and Vodacom SA in a non-executive capacity. I am also the Independent Chairman of Santam and Lead Independent Director of the JD Group. I hold an Honours degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Birmingham, a Fellowship in Development Finance at Princeton University and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Transkei. My previous appointments include: ANC Head of Finance (1990 to 1992), Chairman of the Educational Development Trust (since 1989), NECC founding Chairman (1985 to 1989), and Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, and later Deputy Registrar, at the University of Cape Town. I started my career in the finance division at Anglo American and later decided to start my own finance company.