Purpose-Driven
Every business the group holds is measured against a single question: Does this advance social justice as well as commercial return?
Who we are
A Multi-Billion Dollar Investment Portfolio With A Gentler Form Of Capitalism
Surve Group Holdings is one of the holding companies for the Surve family’s investments. SGH is a diversified holding group with an extensive African and global investment portfolio whose mission is driven by a gentler form of capitalism.
From the early stages of the Family’s investment journey, Dr Iqbal Survé, founder of the Survé Family Offices, was described as the “Gentle Capitalist”, while the Family’s investment ethos came to be known as “a gentler form of capitalism”—combining elements of the market economy with a commitment to transformation, job creation, investment in SMMEs, putting people before profit, and using capital to contribute to the development of the South African and wider African economy. The family offices through its investment has generated employment for tens of thousands of people supporting hundreds of thousands of dependents in its short investment history.
With a significant investment heritage in South Africa and across the African continent, Survé Group Holdings (SGH) brings together interests spanning multiple sectors, including media and communications, technology, information and communications technology, e-commerce and other strategic areas of the economy. The family is one of the largest investors in Media on the African Continent including: online, digital, print, and news syndication.
The Group’s investment portfolio has evolved over many years through an entrepreneurial approach to identifying opportunities, building businesses and creating long-term value.
Our Story
Family Values Embedded In Its Global Investment Portfolio
The story of the Survé family, through the family offices and its investment holding groups such as SGH is one of generations shaped by education, resilience, entrepreneurship and service. From modest beginnings in Cape Town, these values have been carried forward across generations, creating a family philosophy centred on hard work, integrity, opportunity and contributing meaningfully to society.
Dr Iqbal Survé, philanthropist and global business leader, is the founder of the Survé Family Office. Before the family’s investment journey began, Dr Iqbal Survé trained and practised as a medical doctor and sports medicine practitioner while actively participating in the struggle against apartheid. His experiences in medicine, activism and community service shaped an enduring belief that leadership should serve people and that success should have a broader social purpose.
In 1998, inspired by Nelson Mandela’s call for business to contribute to South Africa’s transformation, Dr Survé transitioned from medicine into entrepreneurship. What began with investments in healthcare grew into a diversified portfolio spanning technology, telecommunications, financial services, food and fishing, media, biotechnology, e-commerce, resources and other sectors, with a focus on long-term value creation, empowerment and economic participation.
Today, Survé Group Holdings (SGH) brings this multigenerational investment journey together as the family holding company, connecting African enterprise with global capital, partnerships and innovation. With an international outlook and an increasing focus on artificial intelligence, advanced chip design, electric mobility and renewable technologies, Survé Group Holdings (SGH) continues to evolve while remaining guided by its enduring philosophy of value creation with responsibility.
Family Values
Gratitude For The Journey Across Generations
The Survé family’s story stretches back more than a century, shaped by ancestors who journeyed from Europe and Southeast Asia to Africa in search of opportunity. Today, the family represents fourth- and fifth-generation South Africans. The family pays gratitude to those who led their journey of entrepreneurship coming from many places to Cape Town.
Purpose & Philosophy
What We Stand For
If there is a single thread that binds this journey, it is gratitude. The Survé family has never seen its success as entitlement, but as responsibility. Gratitude for those who sacrificed freedom. Gratitude for communities who trusted them with their stories, health and hopes. Gratitude for the chance to take what they were given and multiply it into something that benefits others.
This gratitude is not passive. It is active, expressed in how capital is deployed, how enterprises are governed, and how platforms are utilised. It is gratitude that becomes responsibility, and responsibility that becomes legacy.
Good Governance
Survé Group Holdings (SGH) holds itself to the King Code of Corporate Governance and, for its listed interests, the JSE Listings Requirements and the Companies Act.
Empowerment
Black ownership, management representation and skills development are core to every business we hold, not an add-on.
People Before Profit
We believe that people are at the heart of every successful enterprise. Our approach places people before profit, with a focus on creating opportunities, empowering communities and building shared prosperity. Through education, healthcare, youth development, entrepreneurship, human rights, arts and culture, and community initiatives, we seek to create lasting positive impact and improve lives.
Transformation
We are committed to meaningful economic transformation and inclusive participation. Our approach seeks to open opportunities in industries and sectors that have historically been inaccessible, while supporting the advancement of black professionals, women, entrepreneurs and communities. By combining investment with empowerment, skills development and enterprise creation, we aim to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable economy.
Job Creation
Job creation is central to our approach to investment and economic development. Our businesses and investments have created tens of thousands of jobs across Africa while supporting skills development, entrepreneurship and sustainable career pathways. Through mentorship, training and enterprise development, we enable people to build livelihoods, support their families and contribute to stronger local economies.
Sustainability
We believe sustainable growth requires a balance between economic progress, social responsibility and environmental stewardship. Our approach encompasses responsible business practices, sustainable development, community upliftment, environmental protection and climate resilience. We seek to build businesses and initiatives that create lasting value while contributing to the wellbeing of future generations.
Innovation
Innovation is a key driver of our investment approach and our vision for Africa’s future. We support the development and adoption of technologies across areas including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, digital infrastructure, renewable energy and healthcare. Through strategic partnerships, knowledge transfer and investment in future-facing industries, we seek to advance technological capability, strengthen African participation in global innovation and create solutions with meaningful societal impact.
Leadership
The Family Leadership
Dr Iqbal Survé
Patron & Founder — set the founding premise that commercial return and social return could be pursued together in the same enterprise.
Rayhaan Survé
Family Offices / Investments — stewards the Group’s family office and investment portfolio across Africa and global investment mandates. Rayhaan was also named in Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 for his contributions to youth empowerment.
Saarah Survé
Survé Philanthropies — leads the Group’s philanthropic arm, channelling value into education, healthcare, youth and social entrepreneurship.
Survé Group Holdings (SGH) Timeline
From Medicine To Global Expansion
(Hover over plotted point to read more.)
Origins
A Family Shaped By Resilience And Service
The Survé family’s story stretches back more than a century, shaped by ancestors who came to Africa from Europe and Southeast Asia. Across generations, education, hard work, integrity and service became enduring family values.
- Origins
A Family Shaped By Resilience And Service
The Survé family’s story stretches back more than a century, shaped by ancestors who came to Africa from Europe and Southeast Asia. Across generations, education, hard work, integrity and service became enduring family values.
- Medicine & Activism
Service Before Business
Before entering business, Dr Iqbal Survé trained and practised as a medical doctor and sports medicine practitioner while also being active in the anti-apartheid movement. Medicine, activism and community service established a philosophy that leadership should ultimately improve people’s lives.
- Entrepreneurial Journey
The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins
Inspired by Nelson Mandela’s call for business to play a role in South Africa’s transformation, Dr Survé left medicine in 1998 and entered entrepreneurship. Sekunjalo was established with a focus on empowerment, transformation and building commercially sustainable businesses with social purpose.
- JSE Listing
Entering The Capital Markets
In May 1999, the business journey began, Sekunjalo Investments Limited listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Dr Survé became the youngest CEO of a diversified investment holding company listed on the JSE Main Board, marking an important milestone for black participation in South Africa’s capital markets.
- Diversification
Building An African Investment Portfolio
The family’s investments expanded from healthcare into technology, telecommunications, financial services, e-commerce, media, biotechnology, food and fishing, industrials, property and sustainability. Profits and dividends were continually reinvested to build and strengthen the portfolio over the long term.
- Global Expansion
Africa Connected To The World
The investment journey expanded internationally through partnerships with multinational companies and investors across Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East. Relationships with companies including Siemens, Nokia, BT, Saab and Infinera helped connect African business with global technology, capital and expertise.
- Family Offices
A Multigenerational Holding Structure
As the portfolio and philanthropic activities expanded globally, family offices were established across Africa, Europe and the Middle East to coordinate investments, partnerships and global initiatives. The structure also supports the transition to the next generation of family leadership.
- Survé Group Holdings (SGH)
Bringing The Portfolio Together
Survé Group Holdings (SGH) represents the evolution of the family’s investment journey into a unified family holding company spanning African and global investments. It brings together the family’s long-term interests while maintaining the founding principles of entrepreneurship, responsible investment and shared prosperity.
- The Future
Investing In What Comes Next
The next phase focuses increasingly on artificial intelligence, advanced chip design, electric mobility, renewable energy and other technologies shaping the future global economy. The ambition remains distinctly African: to connect global innovation and capital with Africa’s growth and ensure the continent participates meaningfully in the industries of tomorrow.
Family Crest
The Survé Family Crest
Every family story has a unifying symbol, and for the Survé family, it is the family crest — inscribed with the Latin words “Communis Humanitas”, meaning a shared future for humanity. The lions represent Africa in strength and resilience, the phoenix speaks of renewal and transformation, and the “S” at its heart carries the family’s value statement.
Explore
Get To Know The Group
Philanthropy
Channelling a share of Group value into education, health and youth skills programmes, funded as a permanent part of the Group.
Read moreGlobal
The Survé family’s global engagement spans some of the world’s most influential economic, business, diplomatic and media platforms, including BRICS, the World Economic Forum, G20, United Nations, Belt and Road initiatives and Global South forums.
Read moreRecognition
The Survé family’s awards and recognition span more than three decades across business, entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, education, media, innovation, sustainability, philanthropy, diplomacy and global leadership.
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