Harry Oppenheimer

This book will surely be the most readable, best informed, most complete account of Harry Oppenheimer's life there is ever likely to be.' – Bill Nasson, historian and author As chairman of Anglo American and De Beers, Harry Oppenheimer held sway over his family's gold and diamond empire for a quarter of a century. He combined a passion for commerce with a streak of creative genius. In this, the first comprehensive biography of Oppenheimer, Michael Cardo has produced a vivid portrait based on unrestricted access to his subject's private papers and interviews with Oppenheimer's relatives and associates. Cardo brings to life the places, people and events that shaped Oppenheimer's career at the intersection of business and politics. From the diamond fields of Kimberley, where his father, Ernest, arrived to seek his fortune in 1902, through his long apprenticeship as heir apparent, to Harry Oppenheimer's emergence on the world stage as a magnate and monarch in his own right – the 'King of Diamonds' and the man with the Midas touch – Cardo tells the story of a dynasty. As a financier, philanthropist and public figure, Oppenheimer straddles the history of 20th-century South Africa. In the 1950s the National Party regarded him as a threat to Afrikanerdom, the sinister embodiment of English 'money power'. Forty years later, Nelson Mandela praised Oppenheimer as a nation-builder, a key figure in South Africa's transition to democracy. Yet nowadays, Oppenheimer is demonised in some quarters as the archetype of 'white monopoly capital' and blamed, in part, for democracy's disappointing dividends. Meticulously researched and superbly written, this authoritative work sheds new light on the multifaceted legacy of a renowned South African industrialist.

Principled reformer or duplicitous exploiter? The contested legacy of Harry Oppenheimer reflects the tensions involved in dealing with South Africa’s complex past. The head of a sprawling global business empire, Oppenheimer played an influential role in twentieth-century South Africa – a role celebrated by some and condemned by others. This book investigates his political thinking over half a century, and considers the nature of his opposition to apartheid as well as his contribution to the democratic age ushered in by Tambo and Mandela. A Man of Africa presents Oppenheimer’s views on liberalism, apartheid, socialism, sanctions, trade unions, education, geopolitics and the legacy of Cecil John Rhodes. Each topic is explored via extracts from his speeches, and is followed by an assessment by prominent South Africans such as Kgalema Motlanthe, Albie Sachs, Clem Sunter, Denis Beckett, Bobby Godsell, Jonathan Jansen and Xolela Mangcu. Fascinating and insightful, A Man of Africa shines new light on one of South Africa’s most powerful and multifaceted figures, and reflects on the role of principled business in a political economy.

The head of a business empire, Harry Oppenheimer played an influential role in twentieth century South Africa, a role that is celebrated by some and condemned by others. This book investigates Oppenheimer's political thinking, drawing from his speeches over the years. It looks at his views on liberalism, apartheid, socialism, sanctions, trade unions, education, geopolitics, the press and the legacy of Cecil John Rhodes. Each topic is explored via extracts from Oppenheimer's speeches, and is followed by an assessment by prominent South Africans such as Clem Sunter, Kgalema Motlanthe, Albie Sachs, Denis Beckett, Bobby Godsell, Jonathan Jansen and Xolela Mangcu.

South Africa is still the major-player in African diplomacy, its military resources far outstripping those of other nations on the continent. It also has traditionally taken the lead role in Africa's united negotiations with other power blocs. Yet the recent consensus has been that South Africa's diplomacy over the last decades has been a disappointing failure - from appearing to back the controversial Mugabe regime to accusations that it is failing to utilize its position to encourage Chinese investment. John Siko has had insider access to the corridors of power in South Africa, and, with access to the major political players, charts the inability of South Africa to develop a coherent policy over the last four decades. In particular, he reveals the tight grip Mbeki has over foreign policy, to the detriment of SA's standing in the world, and argues South Africa's isolationist style of policy making has not changed enough after Mandela's election in 1994.

The ultimate success or failure of a business in modern society depends on a variety of factors across all levels of the organization. By utilizing dynamic human resource planning techniques, businesses can more efficiently reach their goals. Effective Talent Management Strategies for Organizational Success is a pivotal reference source that provides scholarly perspectives on the latest practices for leveraging human capital in business environments to maintain and increase competitive advantage. Highlighting innovative coverage across relevant topics, such as division of labor, intellectual assets, and value creation systems, this book is ideally designed for managers, professionals, academics, practitioners, and graduate students seeking emerging research on optimizing talent management in modern businesses.