I’ve experienced an interesting relationship with SA’s most famous whistleblower, former Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi. It took a new turn recently when he sent me his two books, beautifully packaged in a green, white and red ribbon displaying his Italian roots. Next, no doubt, will be an interview – lawyers permitting.
Am almost through the first Agrizzi book – Inside The Belly Of The Beast – and have been pleasantly surprised at the quality of the writing and cohesive nature of the tale. Written in bursts, each short chapter tells part of the story, setting the scene for the crimes all South Africans will know are coming. I’m just past page 200 and the real muck is emerging.
Agrizzi occasionally delves into philosophy. To whit: “It is human nature to elevate one’s standard of living according to one’s incoming funds. Gavin (Watson) had it all worked out – pay a man a once-off bribe and he’ll do what he can and move on. But pay that man a bribe every month and he is beholden to you for life.” Straight from the ANC playbook.
___STEADY_PAYWALL___Like any autobiographer, this one is kind to himself. But not excessively so. And it’s easy to imagine writing this was a catharsis. Whatever you might think of Agrizzi, or of counter-accusations by the Watsons, reading this book does confirm one thing: SA owes the occupant of Palazzi Agrizzi a great deal for lifting the Bosasa lid. Perhaps the true scandal is why so many he exposed still walk free, doing BEE deals, swigging Chivas and Crème Soda.
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It’s back to a focus on investments in our regular interview with top performing global fund manager, London-based value investor Sean Peche of Ranmore. The obvious question is whether the chaos currently rocking UK financial markets – and Europe’s – presents an opportunity for investors. Peche draws on two of his industry’s greatest minds – Warren Buffett and Howard Marks – to explain why it’s now opportune to swim against the tide, to think beyond the obvious and get greedy at a time when everyone appears to be fearful. He spoke to Alec Hogg of BizNews.
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