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Paarl - South Africa remains a country of opportunities, founder of the JSE-listed PSG Group, Jannie Mouton, told Fin24 on Tuesday.
PSG is an investment holding company with investments in, among others, Capitec, Curro Holdings and Zeder. In Mouton's view there are still plenty of opportunities in SA. It remains "home" for him - the place where his happy and surrounded by family and friends.
"A person who only looks at problems will never excel. Rather look at the opportunities," Mouton said at the launch of the latest development at the luxury Val de Vie security estate near Paarl in the Cape Winelands.
Val de Vie Evergreen is a retirement village being developed within a greater residential estate. Evergreen Lifestyle, which develops retirement villages, was established in 2008 by property developer the Amdec Group to offer retirees a lifestyle option, including security, hospitality elements and great facilities.
It caters for the rapidly increasing number of middle to upper-income retirees in SA.
PSG Alpha Investments, a subsidiary of PSG Group, holds a 50% stake in Evergreen Lifestyle.
The investment was by means of a R675m subscription for new shares. It is one of the largest initial cash investments by the group to date.
To Mouton, Evergreen is an example of looking and finding opportunities in SA - creating a way to "relax and enjoy growing old".
Asked about his take on the ANC's much anticipated elective conference in December, Mouton told Fin24 he hopes people will realise what President Jacob Zuma has done to the country.
"It can only be positive if there is a change. Corruption has been exposed and one can only hope that good will come, especially after the book by Jacques Pauw [The President's Keepers]" said Mouton.
"People are sensible and it will lead to something positive."
Regarding retirement, he said one does not want to have a complete change in life. Evergreen created a way one can relax and enjoy growing old.
James Wilson, CEO of the Amdec Group, agrees with Mouton that SA is "a wonderful country with passionate individuals, who want to see the country prosper".
He told Fin24 at the Val de Vie Evergreen launch that optimism is contagious - and so it pessimism.
"Politicians come and go. Society is built beyond politics. The majority of South Africans want to benefit from growth in the country," he said.
"I choose to invest in SA. Real estate investment is long term and I remain optimistic."
Mouton recently made a personal donation of R1bn as the beginning of an even bigger dream for his philanthropically orientated Jannie Mouton Foundation. It is estimated that Mouton's PSG shares are worth about R12bn.
"I want to create something in South Africa. I see a need in South Africa," said Mouton in September.
"My family and I think education is very important and that could be the basis of the foundation. There are a lot of disadvantaged people and education can play a big role in years to come," he explained to Fin24 at the time.
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