Photo by: Creamer Media
Full name: Edwin PJ Dreyer
Position: Owner and executive director of Thos Begbie Holdings
Main Activity of Company: Manufacturing components for smelting and processing operations in the pyrometallurgical industry using foundry castings and heavy engineered and machined elements. A new venture is producing, shaping and applying graphite refractory and other high-temperature applications
Date and Place of Birth: September 6, 1941, Johannesburg.
Education: Matriculated at Germiston Boys High School and graduated in mining engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand. I also obtained mine overseer’s and mine manager’s certificates
First Job: Surveyor, core sampler and geologist
Size of first Pay Packet: R128 a month
Value of Assets under Your Control: R200-million
Number of People under Your Leadership: 160
Management Style: Consultative and consensus style of management
Personal Best Achievement: Excelling as a self-employed entrepreneur
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My father
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Elon Musk
Business Person Who Has Impressed You Most: Adrian Gore
Philosophy of Life: Live life each day to the full in discipline and selflessness.
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Buying into Thos Begbie
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Being cheated by the people I trusted most
Hope for the Future: Still a great future for South Africa provided strong and honest leadership, applying discipline without favour, prevails
Favourite Reading: Biographies and nonfiction
Favourite TV Programme: CSI Los Angeles
Favourite Food/Drink: Rich Afrikaner food/milk
Favourite Music: Neil Diamond
Favourite Sport: Motor racing
Hobbies: Woodworking and photography
Car: I have been driving BMWs for 38 years
Pets: A Rottweiler
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Bad drivers and dishonest politicians
Married: To Zonda for ten years
Children: Three from first marriage and another two, as well as seven grandchildren
Clubs: BMW Racing Club of Gauteng