The Old Diocesan Issue 13 - Magazine - Page 27
NEWS
GOING SOLA
In May, publications including Business Day and the Cape Times reported on
the acquisition of South Africa’s largest independent power producer, SOLA
Group, by Patrice Motsepe’s African Rainbow Energy (ARE). Under the new deal,
ARE consolidates its majority control over SOLA’s R20-billion-plus renewables
portfolio, while Simon (1997G) and Chris Haw (1999F) step back from their
executive roles, and Dom Wills (1999K) returns as interim CEO. Co-founded
by Simon and Chris in 2008, SOLA has spent nearly two decades pioneering
South Africa’s renewable energy sector, notching up a string of industry firsts
along the way, from the country’s first utility-scale rooftop solar installation
to its first microgrid (on Robben Island), and its first private wheeling deals.
Other ODs still prominently involved include Chris Parker (2010W) and James
Dry (2013O). The Haw brothers remain as non-executive directors, with around
10% shareholding between them. They have, according to Simon, been enjoying
some unfamiliar downtime since the deal was finalised, but are “starting to look
for the next big problem to solve…”
MAGNIFICENT
MEN OF THE
MOUNTAIN
SOLA’s Chris and Simon Haw (on the left) and Dom Wills (far right) on site
with senior ARE personnel Tom Boardman and Brian Dames.
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SOLA
BUSINESS DRAGON
Winning The Away Game is a publishing and networking
venture about successful South Africans around the world.
Earlier this year, UK-based Neil Docking (1998B) was
profiled in a piece about his role as head of global sales
at Dragonpass, the international travel benefits company,
overseeing new business in all markets besides China, South
Korea and Japan. Dragonpass serves 40-million members
with airport lounge access, fast-track entry and dining
packages, and Neil’s South African client list includes
Investec, Capitec and other banks. “We offer complicated
aggregated services in a simplified way, helping to ease
the pain points of South African travellers,” he says.
At this year’s Mountain Club
of South Africa (MCSA) Cape
Town Section Long Service
Awards ceremony, two ODs
were recognised for a pair
of astonishing milestones
of service and membership.
ODU Director Andy Wood
(1977G) was honoured for
50 years of MCSA membership,
defying the maths of those who
were under the impression that
Andy was only 50 years old
himself. Andy is a former head
of the club’s search-and-rescue
team and has been actively
involved in mountain rescue for
many years. Outdoing even that
effort, Ivor Jardine (1954F) was
recognised for an extraordinary
70 years of membership. Both
continue to enjoy getting out
on the mountain.
THE OLD DIOCESAN | 23
