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