Billionaire Gerrie Fourie’s message to people who want to leave South Africa

Billionaire Capitec co-founder and former CEO Gerrie Fourie said that, although South Africa faces serious challenges, it also offers tremendous opportunities.

Fourie shared his views during a discussion with economist Dawie Roodt during an Efficient Group Market Call.

He joined Capitec in 2000 after businessman Michiel Le Roux approached Fourie to join the new bank, based in Stellenbosch.

Fourie agreed and served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) until he was promoted to chief executive on 1 January 2014.

Under Fourie’s leadership, Capitec has become one of the most formidable banks in the country, with over 24 million clients and nearly 900 branches.

“It has been an extraordinary privilege to lead Capitec through a period of tremendous growth and transformation,” Fourie said.

The company said Fourie’s leadership has been instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation and growth at Capitec.

“Gerrie has built a strong and diverse leadership team poised to carry the bank into the future,” it said.

In April 2026, Fourie was appointed to the company’s board as a non-executive director following his retirement from the top job.

He was also appointed as an independent non-executive director on STADIO’s board. The company is a South African private tertiary education provider.

STADIO chairperson Chris Vorster said Fourie’s track record, strategic acumen, and shared passion for education make him a valuable addition to the group.

Fourie said that he has always believed in the transformative power of education to unlock opportunity in South Africa.

“I’m honoured to contribute to STADIO’s vision of broadening access to higher learning and building a sustainable, student-focused organisation,” Fourie said.

Gerrie Fourie’s view on South Africa

During the Efficient Group Market Call, Fourie shared his view of South Africa and his message to people considering leaving the country.

He explained that while South Africa faces numerous challenges, it also offers tremendous opportunities.

“You can go to Switzerland, where everything works, but there are no opportunities,” the former Capitec CEO said.

“The other option is to stay in South Africa, where nothing works, but there are plenty of opportunities. Choose where you want to go.”

Fourie remains positive about South Africa’s economic potential amidst the multitude of structural problems.

“If you look at the economy, you focus on the bleak outlook and being negative, or you can look for opportunities and maintain a positive mindset,” he said.

He explained that, despite the slow economic growth South Africa experienced during his tenure as chief executive, they still found great opportunities.

“If you have a positive mindset, you will find those opportunities. We are slowly but surely turning things around.”

He added that if the South African government simply executes its strategies, things will get much better.

“So, I am positive about South Africa. It is not easy, but there are still plenty of opportunities out there.”

Other billionaires have the same message as Gerrie Fourie

Two other South African billionaires, Christo Wiese and Paul Harris, shared Fourie’s view that the country offers tremendous opportunity.

Christo Wiese is one of South Africa’s most successful businessmen and entrepreneurs and is closely associated with the success of Shoprite and Pepkor.

Wiese explained that when his son asked him whether he should stay in South Africa, he advised him to do so, with one caveat.

“You have to accept, even if you are the smartest man in the country, you will not be able to become president because of the colour of your skin,” he said.

“If you can accept that you are essentially a second-class citizen in your own country because of your race, it is a great country.”

He added that there is an opportunity for people who have benefited from South Africa over the years to give back and make a difference.

Wiese said there are tremendous business opportunities in South Africa for young people who want to follow this path.

Paul Harris, celebrated as one of South Africa’s great entrepreneurs and the founder of many excellent businesses, including RMB and FirstRand, shares this view.

He admitted that some worrying things were happening, but said South Africa has been through and survived much worse in much more volatile environments.

He cited the Boer War, two World Wars, apartheid, the financial crisis without a bank bailout, and the Rinderpest.

His message is clear. “We are fine. We are cool. We know we live in the most beautiful country in the world with warm and vibrant people,” he said.

Harris highlighted many positives about South Africa, including people pulling up their sleeves and fixing what is broken.

He warned that the grass in places like the United States, the UK, and Europe is not as green as it may have been perceived.

“The government of national unity (GNU) could herald in better times despite our continued propensity for scoring own goals,” he said.