Crispin Sonn in his “happy place” – the family’s garden which he built. Here, he begins every morning with his Bible, meditation, or a simple, conscious decision to leave all things that he finds that day better than they were before, including himself, says his only daughter, Emma. PHOTO: Kiara Wales
Crispin Sonn has made a career out of finding value in people. Just as his father, the South African politician Franklin Sonn, focused on equality and education for all, so too do Crispin’s ventures centre on helping and bettering the situations of others. The entrepreneur and philanthropist talks to SMF News’ Kiara Wales about the ‘golden thread’ which runs through his life, driving his ventures in charities and commerce alike.
Introduction
If you are lucky enough to experience the stillness of a Klein Karoo night, the chances are that you will be most struck by the brightness of the stars, with the most luminous being Polaris – the North Star.
Crispin Sonn’s family originates from Carnarvon, a town in the Klein Karoo which is currently home to fewer than 7 000 people. He was born into a family of teachers. Both of his grandfathers were principals of schools linked to the Catholic church. Faith and education therefore played key roles in Crispin’s formative years, carried from the Karoo to Cape Town.
“My dad only wants for us to fill his shoes and expand upon all that he’s done. And those are undoubtedly massive shoes to fill,” says Lebu Sonn, Crispin’s second son. He is pictured with his dad in their driveway in Constantia. PHOTO: Kiara Wales
From his home office in Constantia, where he lives with his four children and his wife, Lisa, Crispin recounts that his father, Franklin, was principal of Spes Bona in Athlone. This school produced the best matric results in the Cape Flats during his tenure.
There, Franklin formed a union for black teachers focused on “struggle through dialogue”. This drew the attention of a man imprisoned on Robben Island, and resulted in his eventual ascension to become South Africa’s first ambassador to the United States (US) following democracy’s institution, beginning a legacy of prominence.
Crispin continues to discuss the dichotomy of his childhood and his father’s desire for generational betterment. “My father wanted to socialize and educate me for a world which he believed was going to change,” he says, by way of explaining his attending an English private school as an Afrikaans Coloured boy in the 1980s.
He credits the combination of this, and joining the Boy Scouts located in a local orphanage, with teaching him “how the world really works, with the privileged and vulnerable being neighbours”.
According to his 21-year-old daughter Emma, Crispin’s mantra for his children has always been to “find your North Star, because it is easy to figure out who you are if you know where you’re going”.
Crispin’s second son, Lebu, cites his “ability to see potential, and then hammer that until they grow,” as his father’s flagship attribute.
Growth, through gardens and generations
The Cape Flats is covered almost entirely by a layer of sterile sand which renders growth relatively impossible without assistance, Crispin says. He recounts transporting “bakkieloads of compost” to their family home there, in order to stimulate growth in this arid environment.
Looking out the window at his perfectly-manicured lawn, which is backgrounded by mist rolling over Table Mountain, he reflects on gardens as bringing comfort in Athlone and Constantia alike.
There is dignity in what you do, only if you do it well. Otherwise, it’s just an existence, and how terrible to live like that. You don’t want an existence, you want to live.
Crispin Sonn
“I want every generation to be better than the last,” he says, leaning back into his recliner. “Not necessarily in terms of material wealth, but in happiness and optimism for the future.”
It is evident that the legacy of growth has taken root in his children Emma and Lebu, who both individually said that working to the best of their ability, and continuing to improve on generational prominence, are the only rules he sets to live by, both for them and for himself.
“He has quotes written on post-it notes on his desk of things he hears or reads, or learns from listening to people in conversation. It’s so inspiring to me that he knows so much, but he always wants to know more,” says Crispin Sonn’s daughter, Emma. He is pictured surrounded by such notes, behind his desk in his home office. PHOTO: Kiara Wales
Culture and philanthropy
“I’m on a couple of boards,” Crispin says, in response to questions about what else ignites his passion. He is understating. In his two-decade tenure as chairman of FoodForward SA, the non-profit organization expanded from a van donated by Engen to a program feeding 980 000 people across all provinces, daily.
As in his and his father’s formative years, the Karoo remains close to his heart. Last year saw his retirement as chairman of the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK), after his goal of transforming the festival into an inclusive space was realised.
“Language was used as a way to divide people, with Afrikaans being called the language of the oppressor,” he says. “We had to destigmatize the language, reclaim it, and get rid of the stereotypes.”
Most recently, he also stepped down as chairman of the council for Bishops Diocesan College, attended by his youngest son, Franklin. Crispin was the first person of colour and non-alumni to assume that role.
Sitting in his lounge in his Constantia home, Crispin Sonn reflects on the golden thread which runs through his life. PHOTO: Kiara Wales
Career
Within the first and last minute of the two-hour interview, Crispin contemplates the ‘golden thread’ which runs through his life, coming to the conclusion that his driving force is “making things a little better.” ‘Crispin, the Builder,’ as his friends call him, cites both his personal and professional lives as being based on finding value in something and increasing it.
After completing various degrees at All Saints College and the Universities of Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Harvard respectively, Crispin left in the midst of his BCom Masters degree at the University of Stellenbosch when a fishing business he was a part of won their first quota. Their business was based on reclaiming fishing quotas held by “white people who had never set foot in the ocean”, to give opportunity to local people of colour, says Crispin.
He and a few friends later founded a technology start-up called SourceCom, which encountered tragedy when all partners besides himself and two others were killed in a road accident whilst on a business trip. In the wake thereof, he joined Old Mutual in 2003, rising in the ranks to become chairperson of their foundation and director of upwards of 7 000 people throughout the Global South.
Although involvement in the philanthropic arm somewhat satiated him, he remained true to the mantra repeated to his children, and left eleven years later to pursue happiness.
This took the form of a family-owned business, with assets split evenly between himself, his sister, Heather, and brother-in-law, Devon. Gamiro Holdings has divisions dedicated to renewable energy, affordable housing developments, contact centres and even debt collection.
“It’s all data-driven though,” he says. “No guys walking around with baseball bats.”
“Gamiro” comes from the Khoi word meaning ‘Northern Star,’ which reflects his personal motto of finding that which drives you to betterment. As Crispin speaks, his golden thread becomes glaringly obvious – using business to better people’s lives – whether it be through fishing permits for the disenfranchised, affordable housing, bringing inclusivity to formerly-conservative institutions or attention to areas typically overlooked within major corporations.
“We should look at any organisation as an opportunity to serve, with everything having a trade-off. Business, charity, faith, my family; I invest differently into all these things. People forget that return doesn’t need to be material.”
Crispin Sonn remembers every person involved in every venture which he has been a part of, by name. Here Crispin stands in his garden at his Constantia home, overlooking Table Mountain. PHOTO: Kiara Wales