Andile Africa, CEO of the Automotive Industry Development Centre
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