Vodacom founder’s ‘honoured’ degree
A leading South African businessman with firm roots in the Eastern Cape and whose visionary leadership changed the face of communications in the country, received an honorary doctorate from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University yesterday.
Former Vodacom chief Alan Knott-Craig, 56, who is originally from Oudtshoorn, received the honorary degree of Doctor in Business Administration from NMMU and described it as a “great honour”.
He said while he had received an honorary doctorate in business leadership from Unisa in 2006, such an honour from NMMU was “special for a couple of reasons”.
Knott-Craig‘s roots in the Eastern Cape are linked to the newspaper industry.
The family were involved with various newspapers throughout the Eastern Cape for 150 years. “I think I was the only one who did not enter the media world.
“My dad gave me instructions not to and said to study in a different field. He said not to get involved, it was too tough a life. And since he was strict, there was no debate so I just did as he said.”
He explained he was head of strategic planning at Telkom‘s head office when, in 1991, he started to investigate the possible application of new digital technologies to what would become the powerful cellphone industry.
Knott-Craig had to convince sceptical people that travelling around with a wireless phone would in fact change the lives of people forever. By 1993 a telecommunication licence was granted and he became the first chief executive of the new venture, Vodacom.
“The degree is very flattering since it presumably recognises my work at Vodacom which is now a company worth R150-billion.”
Knott-Craig was appointed Vodacom MD in May 1993, and said he had put most of his life into the company.
“While it may seem easy to those who see Vodacom today, it was a tremendously difficult, but fun part of my life which took its toll on me personally.
“Secondly, my family come from the Eastern Cape and I spent most of my childhood holidays in Komga, Morgan‘s Bay and Graaff-Reinet. My maternal grandparents, Tony and Agnes de Villiers, lived in Komga and my paternal ones, Ronald and Rae Knott-Craig, lived in Graaff-Reinet.
“So being recognised by probably the most special part of South Africa to me, is quite something.”
Knott-Craig added that Vodacom group chief financial officer Leon Crouse, who worked with him “from day one” at the company, had studied at the then-UPE.
“He was and is by far the best CFO I have ever known and, based on my admiration for Leon, I sent my eldest son, also Alan, to do his BComm and honours here, after which he did his articles. He is today a chartered accountant and a successful businessman in his own right.
“So NMMU is clearly an institution which I admire and am grateful to.”
Knott-Craig, who lives in Pretoria but spends a lot of time at his cottages in the bush at Zebula near Bela-Bela (Warmbaths) and at Boggomsbay near Mossel Bay, has delivered a number of papers across the world over the past 20 years or so.
“As far as business schools go, I have delivered ‘lectures‘ at the Gibbs Business School, the Wits Business School, as well as the Unisa School of Business. And I have mentored many students studying for their MBAs.”
Currently he is trying to live a retired life so that “I might indulge in my hobbies of wildlife photography, genealogy and philately”.
However, he also serves as a non-executive director on the boards of Nedbank Ltd, Nedbank Group, Murray and Roberts, the CSIR, Right to Care (an organisation that fights HIV/Aids), and the College of the Royal Bafokeng – a school in Rustenburg.
He also serves on sub-committees in these companies which include strategy and innovation, health and safety, and remuneration.
“They keep me quite busy since I have had to learn a lot about industries which I have had no prior knowledge of. But I find it stimulating and fun.
“I am also contracted to Vodacom as a personal consultant to the new group chief executive Pieter Uys – who is also an old friend of mine – for two more years. I now no longer serve on the Vodacom Foundation, although it has given me the most to be proud of in my years at Vodacom.”
Knott-Craig admits he is also exploring some “interesting business opportunities. But my priority is to reduce my previous stress levels and spend more quality time with my family and my hobbies”.
Alan Knott-Craig gets PHD – give your views
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