Here’s to the thousands, CEOs included, content to just do the right thing

By Alec Hogg

A couple weeks back I met Gary Lubner, head of the world's biggest windscreen repair and replacement group. Lubner's company, Belron, operates virtually all over the world barring South Africa where its one-time parent PG is the dominant player. When he started an in-house triathlon challenge at Belron some years ago, Lubner took it beyond the usual team building event. As a result, the SA-based charity, Afrika Tikkun, has received millions of dollars.

Four years ago, Aspen founder and CEO Stephen Saad was so moved by the passing of his chairman's son, he undertook the first of now regular fund-raising challenges – a 240km Trans-Karoo mountain bike challenge to raise money for the Sifiso Nxasana Trust. This week another South African entrepreneur, Mark Bristow of Randgold Resources, is doing his fourth Trans-Africa 30 day bike ride of 8 500km. Bristow's previous three efforts raised $2m for charity. He expects this year's event to be the most successful yet, bringing in more than $3m.

Not exactly the rapacious capitalists some believe inhabit South African boardrooms. Funny thing, while these three are shining examples, there are thousands of their ilk all around the country, deeply caring individuals who, having achieved success, are quietly giving back. Their contributions are often missed in the hurly burly of political posturing. But that will never stop them doing what is right.