Dr Iqbal Survé: A resilient spirit against political persecution

IOL News

01-05-2025

To Dr Iqbal Survé, we acknowledge your perseverance. Your journey shows that vision and determination transcend political shifts.
FROM 2015, Dr Iqbal Survé, the tycoon behind Sekunjalo Group, faced what could be described as the most brazen abuse of State Power from politicians, banks, and the media. His bank accounts were closed, and he was haunted by the court of public opinion.
The targeted actions against Survé's followed a strategy reminiscent of apartheid-era tactics:
Financial restrictions through sudden bank account closuresRegulatory scrutiny via continuous investigations, media criticism aimed at influencing public opinionPolitical influence to influence other arms of the State and other actors
Despite these hurdles, Survé exhibited resilience that distinguishes him as a survivor who weathered the storms and did not falter. Instead of conceding defeat, Survé became stronger and has put his enemies to shame.
His determination not to surrender serves as a notable example of entrepreneurial endurance and personal conviction. And history often has a way of balancing scales.
As Survé ventures into advanced artificial intelligence (AI) development to compete with companies such as NVIDIA and after hosting the successful International Cape Town Jazz Festival, his adversaries are facing significant challenges in particular serious allegations of corruption by the US Government after years of impunity and laws which only target a few such as Survé.
The hunters now face their own demons, but Survé is just beginning his ascent.
As in the famous words of Mahatma Gandhi: 'Power is of two kinds. One is obtained through the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent than the one derived from fear.'
Power that punishes adversaries cannot endure, and neither is it effective, as Gandhi teaches us, it eats itself and becomes redundant and eventually rejected by the masses.
And at the same time, the arc of justice is long, but it always bends toward the truth, and as we will see, the temporary abuse of power and successes of corrupt systems eventually weaken.
One of the lessons, of course, with this regime, which was bent on destruction and elimination of opponents, is that real power comes from creation, not destruction.
Survé's new AI venture clearly establishes him as a global player in semiconductor technology, offering both inspiration and a warning.
His story is an inspiration to entrepreneurs facing unfair systems and is equally a warning to those who abuse power.
To Survé, a resilient figure, we acknowledge your perseverance. Your journey shows that vision and determination transcend political shifts.
* Phapano Phasha is the chairperson of the Centre for Alternative Political and Economic Thought, whose focus is on the Global South and BRICS Plus countries.
** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, Independent Media, or IOL.