Upload
chadwinh1421
View
219
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
1/34
The Mentor Part1
1
one
There are not many people who come into your life and
fundamentally change everything about it. Sure, there arepeople who might play a part in your life story, or who
influence your beliefs and decisions. But it probably only
happens once or twice in a lifetime where a personality
pulls you into its slipstream, causing you to steer off course
for a while before you can regain your bearings and find the
road again. This is exactly what happened to me in the
months I spent with Kent Manzini, the person who changed
my life forever.
The strange thing, looking back, is that I still havent come
to any sort of fixed judgment about him. I know that when I
relate this story you will think he is a bad character a
greedy, opportunistic user and exploiter. But the more I
think about it the more I realise that you can only judge
someone in the context of their environment and their
constitution. We dont condemn vultures for eating
corpses. In other words, we do what we do to get bye. And
maybe Kent is the perfect example. But let me tell you the
story and you can judge for yourself.
two
I dont have very clear memory of the first time I met him.
We were introduced one night at a place in town where all
the yuppies, politicians, business types and entrepreneurs
gathered to network and get drunk. It was one of those
pretentious places where the drinks were criminally
overpriced simply because of the types of people who
frequented the place. It wasnt a place I had ever been to
before I didnt fit in at all and I couldnt really afford theprices. But on that night Thami, an old university friend of
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
2/34
The Mentor Part1
2
mine, convinced me to join him so we could catch up and
talk about old times, maybe chat up a few women.
It took me less than an hour to get sick of the place, eventhough Thami was buying our rounds. He was completely in
his element in these surroundings. He dropped out of his
studies after a year to open a small event planning
business. Before long he was winning big contracts and he
used places like this for access to people who could arrange
more work for him. His real reason for coming to here was
obviously to work the room, not to drink or chat.
I stood out like a sore thumb. Everyone else came dressed
to the nines in jackets and ties while I huddled in the corner
in my usual faded jeans and tracksuit top. What really got
to me, though, was that Thami knew half the room and
kept darting off to talk with everyone at different tables. I
was left to drink by myself, like an outcast. I cursed myself
for not coming in my own car.
By the time Kent and his entourage joined our table I was
well on the way to passing out. I dont recall if they were
invited over or if they just gradually invaded our space.
What I do remember is how we traded barbs from the word
go. He must have singled me out as someone to pick on
because of the way I was dressed. Or maybe it was because
everyone could see that I had already partied a bit too
much that evening and was the worse for wear. I remember
him sticking a hand out at me and saying:
My name is Kent Manzini, how are you my brother?
The men around him started to chuckle, obviously amused
by the sight of this grey-suited, well groomed king of the
universe being condescending towards a poor drunk punk. I
mumbled something in reply and shook his hand.
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
3/34
The Mentor Part1
3
I didnt catch your name, he prompted.
Molefe Duiker, I slurred back over the music.
Duiker! What kind of a name is that for an African?
By now everyone at the table was in stitches.
Its more African than Kent. Were you conceived there, or
did your mother name you after the cigarette? I replied,
and it came out more aggressive than I meant it to. At least
it had the effect of wiping the smiles off all their faces.
Judging by the way the atmosphere in the room seemed todrop, I fully expected him to take offense and attack me.
Instead he smiled and patted me on the back.
I like this guy, he announced to the room. Hes got a big
heart. What did you say your name was, again?
Molefe.
Well call you Molly, then. Waiter, please bring anotherdrink for my friend Molly.
The rest of the evening was a blur. I know we went on
drinking until the early hours of the next morning, but I
dont remember much about whom I spoke to and what I
said. I woke up the next morning feeling like a zombie. The
first thing I noticed was a text message from Thami, telling
me that Kent was interested in meeting with me. He gaveme his number and email address. Apparently he wanted to
talk business.
three
I went to work at the call centre as usual the next morning.
I was so used to working hung over that it felt more naturalthan arriving at work sober. But I was too distracted to be
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
4/34
The Mentor Part1
4
productive that day. I went through the motions of trying to
sell life insurance over the phone, all the while counting
down the hours and minutes to the end of the working day.
I didnt know too much about this Kent Manzini character,
but from what I could gather he was a good person to
know.
After work I phoned Thami, trying to get more information.
Apparently Manzini was a big operator on the local business
scene. He was only in his 30s but was already a millionaire
who owned many businesses. He had an MBA from a
university in the United States and was also an ordained
preacher and respected motivational speaker. Everyone
who was anyone knew him, and it was rumoured that he
was the biggest funder of one of the most prominent up-
and-coming ruling party politicians. All of this was
impressive, but what I still couldnt understand was why a
guy like this wanted to meet with me. I told Thami that I
was sceptical about his motives.
What do you have to lose? he asked. Its not every day a
millionaire takes an interest in you. It might lead to
something big, you never know. Or are you happy with
working in that call centre the rest of your life?
The meeting was arranged for later that week. I got paid a
basic per hour and a small percentage of every policy I sold,
so there was no problem with me taking an afternoon off. I
was given the address of an office park close to the Sandton
CBD. I parked my car in the underground lot and checked
my appearance in the mirror. I hoped that I was dressed
appropriately. I wasnt sure if what was about to happen
constituted a job interview, or just a casual chat. I had
decided to err on the side of caution and go in my only suit.
The trousers were slightly lighter than the jacket because Iwore them more often, but it still looked quite respectable.
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
5/34
The Mentor Part1
5
The building complex was one of those new age office parks
where the offices and conference rooms were cordoned off
into different blocks and were separated by gardens and
water features. I reported to reception and was given a
small map giving directions to Mr Manzinis office. I had to
walk through a zen garden and over the bridge of a koi
pond. The place was strangely deserted. Usually an office
block in the middle of the afternoon is a hub of activity. This
place, in contrast, was completely uninhabited. Or rather,
the people that were there were not visible. They were
hidden away in the nooks and crannies, enjoying theirprivacy.
I got to the correct block, which was called Orchid and
decorated with large colour prints of the flower. Manzini
was just outside the door of the building, chewing on a mint
that he had just taken out of the packet. His clean-shaven
skull gleamed as it reflected the spring sunshine.
Hey, Molly! Im happy you made it. With a practiced
motion he flicked the mints wrapper into the pristine koi
pond. I pretended not to notice, but I couldnt help thinking
that the person responsible for keeping the fish alive
wouldnt be too happy if he saw that. Manzini escorted me
into the tiny foyer. We poured coffee from the filter
machine and took our mugs into the glass-partitioned office
containing his desk, suitcase and laptop.
Once inside the building I noticed more signs of activity
than were evident outside. I could hear people in other
rooms, typing and talking on the telephone. The drone of
the air conditioning system made it difficult for me to make
out exactly what they were saying. Manzini himself seemed
strangely aloof from all this chaos. He shut the door,
immediately blocking out the noise, and settled down intohis chair after directing to me mine. We drank our coffees
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
6/34
The Mentor Part1
6
for a while and he seemed to be reading his email in
between sips. After a few minutes of this he squeezed the
bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb, sighed
softly, and then got down to business.
The reason I asked you to come is because of what
happened the other night, he began.
What about the other night?
The way you spoke to me in front of everyone...
Look, I didnt mean anything by it. I was drunk and it justcame out, I explained.
No, dont apologise, he said. I like the way you stood your
ground. I like people with a backbone. All those other
people I consider leeches. They go out with me just to be
seen with someone important. Ive decided that I need
more people like you surrounding me.
Do you mean socially?
No, not just socially. Im someone who believes that you
cant completely separate social and professional life. My
personal brand encompasses everything I do and say.
So what exactly do you want from me?
Im sure youve heard my story. Im a busy man with lots of
different interests and projects. I need what you might call
an Executive Assistant.
You want me to be your secretary?
No, no! I dont want to dictate letters to you or ask you to
bring in the tea. I can use anyone for those tasks. But I do
need someone strong to plan my engagements, my travel
arrangements, those types of thing. Ive been doing most of
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
7/34
The Mentor Part1
7
that myself, and I think its time for me to delegate in that
department.
You know I dont have any experience in that type ofthing? I said.
Yes, your friend has told me some of your background.
Apparently you have a qualification in science but you sell
life insurance?
I did have a science degree, but a couple of years as an
intern at a government laboratory had killed any
enthusiasm I once had for the scientific life. I was resigned
to my fate and was content with continuing my career in
insurance.
Yes, thats what Ive been doing for the last few years. The
moneys not great but its a start. I explained.
Thats the problem with you guys who havent seen the
world. You always think small. Dont you think you deservebetter? I was really intrigued with his accent. It was
something I noticed during our encounter in the bar that
first night. You could hear from the way he talked that he
had received an expensive education overseas.
Well, yes... I began to answer him but then I noticed that
his attention had shifted away from me towards a figure he
could see through the window. There was a white womanwalking across the bridge towards the office, and her
imminent arrival seemed to spur him into getting to the
point quickly. He took out a block of post-it notes and
scribbled something on the top page before handing it to
me.
Look, I dont know what you earn at the moment and I
dont really care. But that is what I am willing to give you,after tax and deductions, if you accept. Look at it, think
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
8/34
The Mentor Part1
8
about it, and then decide. If you like it, you can start on
Monday. Now you have to excuse me. Thanks for coming
Molly.
He got up and opened the door for me and I only had time
to take the slip of paper and put it in my pocket before I
was out the door. I passed the woman on my way out the
building and couldnt help but take a quick look. She was
taller than me in her heels, a perfectly built buxom blonde.
Just before Kent closed the door I heard her say Hello
Love! before pecking him on the cheek. What would his
comrades say about that, I wondered?
I sat in my car for a little while, trying to make sense of
what just happened. The meeting had gone a lot better
than I expected, even if it only lasted a few minutes. The
man certainly had a presence, and I considered myself lucky
to get noticed by someone as successful as he was. The
offer seemed a bit strange but Thami was right: what did I
have to lose? If the money was alright, why not have a stab
at being an Executive Assistant to a figure like that?
Eventually the slip of paper felt like it was burning a hole in
my pocket. I looked at it, and even before I made out all the
figures my mind was already made up. It was approximately
triple the amount I made in a good month at the call centre.
I was about to begin a new life.
four
I really enjoyed the change in scenery during those first few
weeks in Orchid. It was a new experience for me to work
in a place where I could take a break whenever I wanted
and where I didnt have to cower under a power-hungry
supervisor. I also got a kick out of being given my own cell-phone, laptop and email address. The only thing that struck
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
9/34
The Mentor Part1
9
me as strange was that I wasnt given my own separate
office. Kent arranged for another desk to be brought into
the room he used as an office. I was given the corner next
to the window.
The office we worked from were the headquarters of
Kentman Investments, which was the umbrella company
that housed all of Kents businesses. Before I started the job
I did some internet research and found out that after
returningfrom overseas he made some money in the
construction business with a company called Manzibuild.
He also started businesses in waste management and water
purification, but all of those were sold now. The active
businesses under Kentman seemed to be in the fields of IT,
health and wellness, whatever that meant.
To call my activities in Kents office work would be slightly
misleading. I spent most of my time following him around,
leather-bound notebook in hand listening to him talk about
himself and how to be successful in business. Reading those
notes today, I cant make much sense of his comments I
dont know if it is because of the way I took them down or if
they were genuinely as erratic and incoherent as they are in
the notes. At the time he seemed like some kind of modern
day Marcus Aurelius mixed with a good dose of Bishop TD
Jakes. He preached about doing things for yourself and
taking responsibility for the creation of your own wealth.He could quote the bible and JayZee in the same rambling
sentence and still make his original point.
Whenever he asked me whether I had any questions, I kept
trying to direct the conversation towards the practical
aspects of the business. What I wanted to know could be
summed up with one question: How exactly do you make
your money? But the harder I pushed the vaguer hisanswers became. The closest he ever came to answering
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
10/34
The Mentor Part1
10
this question was to tell me that he didnt really focus on
any one of his businesses. He had reached a stage where he
could invest in many different businesses and exploit
whatever opportunities were available at the time. When I
asked for some examples, he would say:
Dont stress the details, my friend. The ideas are more
important than counting the cents. Business is about
fulfilling your destiny, not making money.
I also found it strange that a company as big and prestigious
as Kentman Investments should have so few employees. Irealised very early on that the people I noticed working in
Orchid were not part of our company, they just rented
space in the same building. In fact, I was beginning to
wonder if I was the only Kentman employee.
Of course not, Kent reassured me. I have people around
the country. I just dont believe in the old-fashioned thing
of having everyone in an office. These days, with the newtechnology, all you need is a smart-phone. Once you have
been trained up, youll also be free to come and go as you
want. I prefer my people out in the world, meeting the
people who can make us the money!
The one aspect of his life that was very important to him
was arranging meetings with people. He would ask me to
call the PAs of the people he needed to speak to, and thenbook tables at his favourite restaurants and nightclubs. I
never went with him to those meetings so I didnt know
what he was discussing with them. These meetings took up
a good deal of his time. While he was away from the office I
was left pretty much to my own devices. I had free reign to
do whatever I needed to do. The only thing I had to keep an
eye on was his diary, and give him an update every so often
about who he was supposed to meet next, and where.
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
11/34
The Mentor Part1
11
One Friday afternoon I got a call from Kent. He told me to
clear his diary and to prepare myself to go out for a late
lunch with him and his girlfriend. I assumed it was the same
woman I saw the first time I came to his office.
Maryne should be there in the next half an hour or so,
please wait for her in the parking lot. She wants you to join
us because her baby sister is visiting her from the Free
State. She needs some company closer to her own age, he
explained. Well go someplace we all can enjoy.
She pulled up in a red Audi, exactly the same model asKents silver ride. Her sister sat in the passenger seat, an
identical looking, younger and far grumpier version of
Maryne. Her name was Tanica, and it was obvious that she
was hating every minute of being there. I got to talking with
Maryne, who turned out to be a marketing type, friendly
and very chatty. Part of her friendliness might have been an
attempt to make up for her sisters bad manners but she
seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me. I was
her mans new right hand man, after all.
I also figured that her baby sisters English might not be so
good, and Tanica was trying to make things more
comfortable for her by translating certain things. I also
learned that Tanica was still studying, and was living with
Kent and her eldest sister for the holidays. Their parents
lived in some small town and thought it would be good for
their youngest daughter to be exposed to city life before
she started working too.
We ended up at the local mall, in a restaurant that served
good food but was also popular with people just wanting a
cocktail or ten after work. It stayed open until late, and
later that night some of Kents business connections made
an appearance. He and Maryne went over to one of their
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
12/34
The Mentor Part1
12
tables, leaving me and Tanica alone for the first time. I
thought she might be more comfortable talking to me
without the other two present, so I shuffled over closer to
her and began to ask about her visit.
It must be nice spending time with your sister again?
Its OK, I suppose. I usually only see her at home, when she
comes to visit.
So how does Kent handle it when he goes to visit your
parents?
He doesnt. When she comes home to visit she never
brings Kent. They have never seen him before.
But they know about him? Theyve been seeing each other
for years now.
They know a little bit about him. She speaks to me more
than she speaks to them.
They know hes not Afrikaans, not white.
They suspect. I mean, Im sure theyve figured it out by
now.
And theyre OK with it.
I wouldnt say OK. Theres nothing they can do about it, so
why must they worry.
It took me a while to process this. For all his status and
wealth, the man was still not accepted.
And you, what do you think of Kent? You know him quite
well already.
I dont like him. But not because of what you are saying.
Why dont you like him then?
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
13/34
The Mentor Part1
13
She leaned closer to me, looked me in the eyes, and said:
Because he lies.
I tried to get her to explain what she meant, but I couldnt
get anything further out of her. I never ever forgot those
words though. They made no sense at the time. I was
convinced the family vilified him for having the nerve to
become involved with their precious blonde and blue-eyed
daughter. There was just something about her tone when
she said those words that made me pause. She said them
like she really meant them.
five
Just after a month into the job, Kent decided that I would
be of more use to him if I joined him on his travels. He was
booked on a two-week government sponsored speaking
tour. He was meant to give motivational talks to groups ofblack businessmen in three big cities and a few small towns
in between. He arranged for me to accompany him, so I had
to drop everything and get ready to leave with him.
A strange thing happened on the flight to the coast, where
he was expected for the first speaking engagement. He was
booked to speak the next morning, and I was sitting next to
him on the late afternoon flight. He was talking about thefirst time he got on an aeroplane. It was when he won the
scholarship to study business overseas. According to him,
he was a simple, unsophisticated boy from the township
and the thought of being so high in the air frightened him
so much that he spent most of the long flight in the toilet.
He joked that at least in the cubicle there was nobody to sit
next to him and see how he was shaking. The drinks trolley
came past and he asked if I wanted a whisky. I said yes, and
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
14/34
The Mentor Part1
14
when the stewardess arrived he asked for one whisky and
two mineral waters.
What, are we going to share the shot? I joked.
No, Molly, its for you. I never touchthe stuff.
What? I asked, not believing what I was hearing.
Whenever I saw him in a bar or restaurant he always had a
glass with a shot or two of something in it. I told him as
much.
Maybe youve seen me with a glass of liquor on my hand.But have you ever seen me drinking any of it? he asked me.
No, I cant say...
Thats because Im a teetotaller. The glass is all for my
image. Its for the look, part of my brand. In reality I dont
drink alcohol. Havent tasted any in my life.
I sipped my drink and listened to his ruminations on varioustopicsfor the rest of the journey. This would be the first of
many interesting things I learned about my travelling
partner on that trip.
We collected our luggage and headed towards the car
rental agency. At the counter Kent asked me to fill in the
paperwork and hand over my licence for them to make a
copy. The organisers of the talk would be paying the costs,but I would be listed as the person to whom the car was
released.
Mr Duiker will be doing all the driving, he explained to the
girl behind the counter. This was news to me. I had
prepared myself for two weeks of sitting in the passenger
seat while Kent drove us around.
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
15/34
The Mentor Part1
15
And please print him directions to our hotel, he called
after her. He turned to me to explain: Youre on your own
for the rest of the day. My lift is waiting for me in the other
parking lot. Go check yourself in and get some room
service, anything you like, on the rooms account. And
theres a comfy bar downstairs, spend some time there if
you want. Well meet again early tomorrow morning with
the other speakers at the conference room at our hotel. I
have some business to see to before then.
I found all this a bit strange, especially given that I was
supposed to be the person in charge of planning his
schedule, but I wasnt going to complain. Who was I to
question the way he did things? I couldnt help but wonder,
though, what kind of business he had to see to late at
night in a strange town. I told myself that I was probably
reading too much into the incident. People like Kent were
well connected and knew other important people in every
town in the country. They prided themselves on theirextensive networks.
I was given the keys to a late-model white Nissan sedan and
sent on my way with my luggage, hotel reservation
documents and map. I stayed at the bar until around
midnight, waiting to see whether he would be staying there
for the night, and who he would arrive with. Eventually I
reached the conclusion that he was going to be sleepingsomewhere else. I signed for my drinks before going
upstairs to get some rest before the big engagement later
that morning.
six
To fully understand Kent Manzini, you have to witness himin front of a crowd. Its as if he becomes a different person,
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
16/34
The Mentor Part1
16
as if something possesses him and he loses himself in the
moment. He feeds off the energy of the people he is
speaking to, and the more enthusiastic they get about what
he is saying the better he gets at saying it. I had the
privilege of watching him perform this magic time after
time to crowd after crowd. He could talk in at least three or
four different languages, and adapted his speeches
according to the region he was in. What he said, and the
way he expressed himself catered to everyones taste -
from the uneducated and illiterate to the serious scholar.
On a typical day during the speaking tour we would meet in
the lobby of our hotel for breakfast. At least half the time,
Kent would have slept somewhere other than the hotel and
he would arrive for breakfast with whomever was hosting
him the previous evening. I was often shocked by the
amount of high calibre people he associated with. I would
come downstairs in the morning and be confronted with
Kent pulling me towards a table and saying:
Mr So-and-So, meet my assistant Molly, and I would be
shaking hands with the Director General of some or other
government department, or the CEO of a company. Other
times I would have to have breakfast with the head of a
church or spokesperson of a political party. There were
even times when we were joined by people whose faces I
recognised as TV presenters or actors. But most of the time,the person joining us for breakfast would be a what I
started to think of as type A bluppie, in other words a
young businessman, usually extremely well groomed and
impeccably dressed, who happened to be the next best
thing in his line of work. I met a string of people in this
mould bank executives, marketing gurus, economic
forecasters, investment analysts and even a few business
journalists. They all seemed hungry for a piece of Kent. It
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
17/34
The Mentor Part1
17
struck me how lucky I was to have so much access to the
man, when all these important people had to hustle to get
some face time with him.
After breakfast we would drive in convoy to the speaking
venue. We were in small towns most of the time so this was
usually straightforward. But there were other times when
we were in big cities and where traffic came into play, when
I was given the task of leading the convoy in my rental car,
which always came with a GPS navigator. I would always
drive alone. During these trips I often stole a glance in the
rear-view mirror at the car behind me. The scene would
always be identical. There would be a chauffeured luxury
car following me, with the breakfast guest and Kent
huddled in conference on the back seat. I say in conference
but it was almost always Kent talking while gesticulating
with his hands and the other person listening and nodding.
On arrival at the venue I would go in first and liaise with the
organisers to find out the exact time Kent needed to start
speaking. I would go back to convey this information and
plan our own schedule for the day. I would set up the
laptop with the presentation slides on it and make sure that
it was connected to the projector and that the projector
was working properly. Kent would give his presentation,
there would be a lunch for all the participants, and then the
afternoon would be spent networking in smaller groups andarranging private meetings. In the late afternoon I would be
told what the plan was for the evening. Either I would have
to join Kent for supper with one of the organisers, or he
would have to attend to some other business and I would
be sent back to the hotel and told that he would see me in
the morning again.
This routine went on until the last day of the tour. Therewas no speaking engagement that morning and our flight
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
18/34
The Mentor Part1
18
back home was only at lunchtime. I thought this would give
us an opportunity to sleep in, but Kent informed me
otherwise.
We need to be at the bank when they open their doors.
Meet me downstairs after breakfast with your bags packed.
Well be taking your car today.
We loaded everything into the car and I drove him to a
branch in town. Before he got out the car he grabbed his
laptop bag, removed his laptop and walked into the branch
with the empty satchel. The transaction must have beenarranged before he got there because he was back outside
in under 20 minutes. He kept the satchel on the floor
between his feet and began directing me to a different part
of time. We pulled into the parking lot of a government
building. At the entrance I could see that it was the
headquarters of the provincial health department.
What are we doing here? I asked him. Again, this wasntpart of the itinerary we had so painstakingly planned.
I have some business interests with this department, he
replied. This might take a little while so put on the air
conditioning on and listen to some radio. If it takes too
long, I may phone you and tell you to check our baggage in
at the airport and then come back for me. But stay here
until I tell you otherwise.
You dont need me to come with you?
No, that wont be necessary. I dont want to confuse them
with a new face, he said with a smile.
He took the satchel and headed in the direction of the main
entrance. Before he got there he was intercepted by what
looked like one of the officials who worked in the building.They greeted each other and then the official directed Kent
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
19/34
The Mentor Part1
19
to a side entrance to the building. They disappeared from
view. I took Kents advice and made myself comfortable in
the car. I was tired of being on the road and I missed home,
even if it was a one-bedroom dump in a vibrant
neighbourhood. I had just received my first months salary,
and the amount was so much that I was considering finding
something nicer, closer to work maybe. Or maybe a newer
car? My 20-year old scrap had been giving me problems. I
pushed my seat back and dozed off, lulled by the drone of
the radio and the sun.
I was woken by Kent slamming the door. I took one look at
his face and knew that things had not gone according to
plan inside the building. He was sweating heavily and the
first thing he did once in the car was crank up the air-
conditioning to its maximum. His facial expressions also
showed signs of strain. For the first time I noticed that
despite his well-groomed exterior, he had bags under his
eyes and worry lines on his forehead. I even wonderedwhether it was true that he was only in his 30s. The
youthful air he gave off, like so much else about him, might
be something practiced, something he worked hard at
achieving.
Ok, lets go home, he said with a resigned air. He didnt
say anything else for the rest of the trip to the airport. I
knew better than to try to get anything out of him. In anycase, he was too busy on his phone, sending messages and
checking his emails. I clearly remember him having to shove
his laptop into one of the kitbags containing his clothing.
The laptop satchel he walked in with had been left in the
building.
seven
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
20/34
The Mentor Part1
20
The end of the year was approaching and I was beginning to
wonder about how much leave I would be given around
Christmas. I had no family to worry about and I had only
just started in the job, but I was still dreading spending the
festive season working. All my friends were already
planning their holidays. I asked Kent about this and to my
relief he told me that he would be away for a few weeks.
Im going skiing in the Alps with Maryne and another
couple were friends with, but were only leaving on Boxing
Day. Where are you having Christmas lunch? he asked.
At one of my friends I suppose.
Well Im giving you three weeks off after Christmas to
spend with your friends. Why dont you come to my place
on Christmas day? Bring your favourite booze because I
dont keep any. Ill be cooking a feast for you, Maryne and a
close friends of ours. Oh, and dont forget your costume
The way he said it made it clear that it was more of an
instruction than an invitation. I wasnt exactly a fan of
swimming pools and the thought of spending Christmas day
with Kents rich friends wasnt my idea of fun. But I was
glad to hear about such a long holiday and decided that it
made sense to suffer through one day of pain and boredom
to gain three weeks of freedom.
He gave me directions to their place. I had never been there
before, so I was pretty eager to see exactly how large he
was living. The address was as upmarket as I expected but
when I got the house it was smaller and somehow grubbier
than I imagined it. Which is not to say that it lacked
anything. He owned everything there was to own, but
somehow it didnt all fit together. The complex they lived
in, for example, was an expensive Tuscan-themed estate.Yet Kent had insisted on installing palm trees in his back
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
21/34
The Mentor Part1
21
yard. The inside of the place was also cluttered with
everything from spas to gym equipment and every
domestic appliance known to man.
I was greeted at the door by Maryne, who wished me a
merry Christmas and told me to make myself comfortable.
It was stiflingly hot that day, so she was already in a
Christmas-themed bathing costume covered with a sarong
and Father Christmas hat. Judging by her breath when she
pecked me on the cheek, she was far from sharing her
partners aversion to alcohol. She took the six pack and
vodka I had with me to put in the fridge.
You shouldnt have bothered with this stuff. I brought
plenty myself, she explained.
I thought he doesnt keep any in the house, I answered.
He doesnt, but I brought some from my place. Can I pour
you a cocktail?
I was confused by the comment. Why didnt they live
together? There was plenty of room for two people even if
it wasnt the mansion I expected. I took the glass she
offered me and walked with her to the entertainment area
outside. Kent was standing in the shallow side of the
swimming pool, talking to a huge hairy barrel-chested
figure who Maryne introduced as Gautam Dev, a close
friend and business partner visiting from India.
Molly, put your shorts on and come join us. I need your
opinion on something.
By the time I changed Maryne had brought out a platter of
snacks and a drinks trolley with more cocktails. She was in
the pool, doing laps past the men who chatted away while
sitting on the steps. I climbed in gingerly, but the day was
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
22/34
The Mentor Part1
22
so hot that the water temperature wasnt that much cooler
than the air anyway.
Molly, I was just telling Gautam that in South Africa, deathis big business! began Kent jovially.
For a few seconds I was stunned by the comment. It was
just such an incongruous thing to say on a beautiful, warm
summer day, Christmas to boot, while relaxing in a pool in
the leafy suburbs.
Yes, I suppose AIDS and crime and all that, I managed to
mumble in response.
Exactly, crime and AIDS! parroted Kent. Our morgues are
always full with bodies. The undertakers and funeral home
owners are millionaires these days. Death is big business
here.
No, no, let me tell you two something, Gautam
interrupted. There is no country on earth where life ischeaper than in India. There are just too many people for us
to care whether one or two die or not. And so much of
poverty! Sometimes you wonder why these people care to
breed at all. All their kids can look forward to is a few
hungry years of suffering before dying in the streets.
I took another swig and tried to adjust to the weirdness of
the conversation. I watched Maryne gracefully glidethrough the water, performing the breaststroke perfectly.
She kept the sarong on when she swam. I remember
thinking how strange it was that someone with such a
perfect body would want to keep it covered.
I was telling Gautam that I fully expect Manzihealth, my
healthcare company, to become the best performer among
all my businesses. Health and wellness is the new gold.People cant stop spending on feeling good. And if that
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
23/34
The Mentor Part1
23
doesnt work, you just get them to spend on looking good!
The one budget that never dries up is the vanity budget.
We all laughed at this. Maryne had stopped swimming andwas drying herself by stretching out on the baking tiles next
to the pool. Kent abruptly stopped laughing. He turned
towards her as if he had just thought of something.
I better start cooking the meal, he excused himself.
As I expected, he wheeled out a huge gas griller and began
to fiddle with the knobs. He was going to cook everything
outside, tradition be damned. And instead of turkey or
gammon, he decided that seafood was more appropriate.
We gathered around to help and also to watch him cook. By
now Maryne and I were also were cooked after a few
cocktails each, and I decided to switch to beer before things
got out of hand. Gautam was on his first cocktail, but he
seemed to be light on juice because it had an immediate
effect. He kept trying to help Kent with the cooking with theresult that utensils and other equipment started dropping.
To distract him Kent told Maryne: While were all here,
why dont you get the presents I bought for them.
She came back out of the house with two little boxes. Mine
contained a silk Italian tie, monogrammed with the
companys logo, the capital letters K and M in fancy script.
Kent joked that it was time I started wearing ties andstarted looking the part of someone who earned as much
as I did. Gautam decided to open his later. Kent suggested
that he keep it wrapped for his trip back to India and open
it once he got home. The giving of the gifts started us
talking about what Kent and Maryne had got for each
other.
That, unfortunately, is between the two of us, said Kent.Maryne burst out laughing, to Kents obvious irritation.
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
24/34
The Mentor Part1
24
Come on, love. Lets tell them, she said.
Absolutely not, he insisted, and she could tell that he
wasnt joking anymore.
Im sure the skiing trip is part of your gift for each other, I
suggested, mainly to break the tension. They nodded in
unison. Kent smiled again and took another sip of his soda
water and lime.
After the meal and desert Gautam began to make
preparations to leave. He explained that he needed to get
some rest and prepare some final things before his
departure the next day. Kent took me aside and asked me
to stay and watch Maryne while he took Gautam back to
the hotel.
She does weird things when shes alone and drunk. Shes
not supposed to mix alcohol with her medication. Im a bit
scared shell hurt herself. Stay and have a few more drinks
with her until I get back. I need at least one sane person in
the house while Im gone.
I can always take him, I began, already uncomfortable with
the prospect of being alone with his woman in his house.
No, please. Im the only one who would pass a breathalyser
now. Besides, Gautam and I have a few things to discuss on
the way there.
When they were gone we decided to take our drinks to the
swimming pool and cool off after the big meal. After what I
had just been told, I somehow felt more comfortable
outside than in the house. Maryne seemed fine to me,
though, and we shot the breeze for a while before she
brought up the topic.
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
25/34
The Mentor Part1
25
You know how we were speaking earlier about gifts? she
asked. The reason he didnt want to say what they were is
because it would embarrass him in front of Gautam. See,
we already have everything all the phones, gadgets and
cars we can handle. So for the last two years we have been
buying each other procedures.
Procedures? What do you mean? I was honestly
perplexed.
You know, bored rich people procedures. Botox and work
and other stuff. Why do you think we look so fabulous? shesaid this last word with a snort of drunken sarcasm. We are
both into that kind of thing, and its so easy for us to
arrange because of his contacts in the medical business.
Hes had skin lightening, botox and other work on his face.
Makes him look ten years younger than he is.
What about you?
Well, thats the thing. This year, I had to ask for another
procedure for Christmas. But this one is more corrective
than anything.
What are you talking about? I asked.
She stood there for a while, contemplating her answer. It
was obvious that she needed to get something off her chest
but she just didnt have the words to do it. She walkedtowards me and slowly unclipped the knot holding the
sarong. I backed away from her, still holding a beer, until
my legs were against the side wall of the swimming pool.
She came closer and closer until she was nearly on top of
me, and she was reaching behind her back and unclipping
her bikini top, which fell into the water revealing her huge
breasts. They were firm, pasty and uneven with small red
lumps pressing against the skin, which was stretched and
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
26/34
The Mentor Part1
26
flaky. Her nipples were completely inverted, two deep holes
disappearing into her flesh. The sight sobered me up
immediately. I tried not to look at her face but I could see
that she registered the disgust in my expression.
Nice, isnt it. Another Kent Manzini success story, she
slurred and tried to laugh but burst into tears instead. She
covered herself, got out of the pool and ran inside. I could
hear the bedroom door slamming shut. I heard her sobbing
loudly inside the bedroom, but she eventually became quiet
and I gathered that she was fast asleep.
eight
I never got the full three weeks of holiday because a week
after New Year I got a call from a frantic Kent. He told me
he was cutting short his skiing trip because there was an
emergency we had to deal with. He needed me in the office
the next day. It was a good thing I stayed in town instead of
going home to visit my parents as I initially planned. I
reported bright and early the next morning and found Kent
in the office reading a newspaper. He called me over and
pointed to a small story on one of the pages. It was about a
lawsuit being filed by a patient of a state hospital who
developed septicaemia after getting an injection with a
defective syringe. The hospital expected more people tocome forward with similar complaints.
Have a look at this. A friend alerted me while I was
overseas, he said and pointed to a specific paragraph.
Officials are blaming the poor quality of the hospital
equipment on the health departments preferred supplier,
Manzihealth. Despite numerous efforts, we were unable to
get any response from Manzihealth owner, Kent Manzini or
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
27/34
The Mentor Part1
27
any spokesperson for the company. The department of
health in the province has announced that it is to
investigate the incident and relook its agreement with
suppliers of medical equipment.
Can you believe those bastards? he exclaimed. I was on
holiday and my work phone was off. How was I supposed to
know they wanted a response from us?
So its true, what this guy is claiming. Is it the companys
fault?
Well have to take a look. Sometimes you get a bad batch
of products, theres nothing you can do. What these people
dont understand is that were running a business, were
trying to make profit. They get what they pay for, and then
when things go wrong they want to shift the blame to us.
For now, you have to help me come up with a response. My
PR guy is on his way. He works from Pretoria but he will be
meeting me for lunch. I will be spending lots of time withhim until all of this blows over. I need you here to man this
office and field any calls or queries. Your line will be that I
will release a statement when the time is appropriate. No
comment at the moment.
After he left I reread the story, trying to determine exactly
how serious this problem was. I kept thinking about
Marynes words in the swimming pool another KentManzini success story. Did it mean that these mistakes were
common? The whole idea seemed preposterous. I couldnt
get myself to believe that a company as respectable as
Kentman, and a businessman as respected as Kent Manzini,
could have anything to do with such shenanigans. Like he
told me, he never got involved in the brass tacks aspects of
his businesses. So it must be someone else, running one of
the smaller companies in the group, responsible for
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
28/34
The Mentor Part1
28
supplying the faulty medical supplies. But then why did
Maryne blame him for her botched surgery?
I spent the next week taking the odd phone call frompeople looking for Kent. Only a fraction of the queries had
to do with the newspaper story. I gave them the line I was
instructed to give, and Kent really did go underground for
most of that time. I received the odd communication from
him, usually to the effect that he was hunkered down
somewhere with his spin doctor, putting out fires. In fact,
the storm I was preparing myself for never materialised.
Somehow the patient who threatened the lawsuit
underwent a change of heart and decided not to sue. The
promised investigation into the supply of equipment never
got underway and the whole episode simply fizzled out.
But during this quiet period when Kent was away I began a
strange correspondence. It started out of the blue when I
received a please call me notification from someone called
Dineo. I ignored the first message because I didnt know
anyone with that name but I started getting many of these
messages, three or four every day for days on end. I
decided to put an end to the business and find out why this
person was bothering me. It was probably a
misunderstanding about the phone number, I thought to
myself, they are trying to get hold of someone with similar
digits. To my surprise the woman who answered knew myname.
Who is this and what do you want? I replied.
Its Dineo, she answered. Am I speaking to Molefe
Duiker?
How do you know me?
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
29/34
The Mentor Part1
29
They told me you are working for him now, and if I want to
tell him something I must try to get hold of you. She spoke
very slowly and softly, with an accent that told me she
wasnt comfortable expressing herself. The impression I got
was that she was a country bumpkin, intimidated by having
to speak to someone in the city.
You want to tell Kent something?
Yes, Kent. Tell him I want to know why there is no money
for so long. He will know what Im talking about.
She hung up. I immediately sent Kent a text message,
explaining that this Dineo person was calling after him and
asking for money. His reply came faster than I expected,
almost instantaneously don worry, will sort it out. He
obviously knew her, then. At least I did my part for her and
the problem had been sorted out. I assumed it would be
the last time I heard from Dineo.
nine
Things went back to normal and Kent started coming into
the office regularly again. We resumed our old sessions
with the notebook and I began to understand him and his
methods better as the weeks went by. He continued his
endless rounds of meetings, events and functions while Ibecame more proficient at planning his hectic schedule and
managing the smooth running of his diary. He even got me
involved in developing some more material for his next
round of speaking engagements. This involved reading
some of the literature that he recommended and extracting
some quotes that he could tweak and use in his talks.
It was around this time that Kent started talking to meabout his work for the church. It started off with a request
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
30/34
The Mentor Part1
30
that someone emailed, asking for funds to be donated to a
charity that went into the poorest slums and gave people
bibles. We both looked at the mail and I made a joke that
he only good that would do was if those people sold the
bible and bought some food with the money. This remark
seemed to offend Kent.
See how ignorant you are, Molly. You still think man can
live by bread alone, he said.
Im just saying, Kent. Whats the use of owning a bible if
you dont have anything to feed your children? I knew hewas an ordained pastor, but I couldnt believe he was taking
this line on the issue.
This is why you havent been blessed with success yet, he
continued. You still dont understand priorities. If you dont
get on Gods good side first, nothing will happen for you.
With God on your side, you can get away with anything. Im
living proof of that.
I nodded in agreement. I knew that it was futile to continue
the argument. Kent was by no means a tyrant, but there
were certain principles and values that he took very
seriously. I didnt agree with what he was saying, but I knew
that I was wasting my breath telling him so.
So are you going to support this campaign? I asked.
You know I always practice what I preach, he said. He
proceeded to take down the bank details from the email.
While I was still there he went onto his own banks website
and transferred a huge sum of money as a donation to the
campaign. The amount he gave them was exactly equal to
my monthly salary. I dont know if that was a co-incidence
or if he was sending a subtle message to me about my
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
31/34
The Mentor Part1
31
relative worth to him. It was a message I would never
forget.
It was during our next speaking tour that I realised how bad
Kents personal life had become, especially the situation
with Maryne. I saw less and less of her at the office and
from what I could tell his contact with her had also fallen
considerably. Eventually, one morning in the lobby of our
hotel in Durban, he confided in me that she was on a
downward spiral, and that he preferred to simply get outthe way in case she took him with her.
I dont know if its the anti-depressants, but shes become
like a zombie, he confessed.
Maybe the dose is too strong, I suggested.
No, shes been taking the same stuff for years now. But
recently shes just down - nothing I buy her is good enough,she never wants to go out, and when we are together she
sulks and watches TV all day. Thats why I dont even bother
with her anymore. Its like shes not the same person.
I think you just need to spoil her a bit when you get back.
I dont know. I need to decide if its worth the effort.
His social engagements while we were on the speaking tourwere as frequent as ever. Once again, I fell into the routine
of finding places and people to amuse myself with in the
evenings. I even began to build my own network of friends
and acquaintance in the different towns we toured. They
were mostly people like me: hangers on, spokesmen and
assistants to the VIPs who hosted, or who graced the stage
on the business and motivational speaker road-shows. Not
only were they valuable leisure companions at the end of
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
32/34
The Mentor Part1
32
the working day, they also provided much needed
intelligence on the VIPs they were meant to be looking
after.
It was on one of these outings that I began to learn some
more of the truth about Kents past. Juanita, the PA of one
the politicians on the tour, brought up the topic of Kent
Manzini by saying how she had heard that he came from a
wealthy family, and that his father was a wealthy trader in a
rural village.
Thats not what I heard, said Zam, one of the marketingand event officers for the organisers. I heard from
someone who used to do business with him that he had a
tough upbringing. He grew up in his grandmothers house
with a dozen other cousins, all living off her tiny pension.
Isnt that right Molly?
Your guess is as good as mine, I replied. My response
brought about laughter and expressions of shock from therest of the company.
You mean to tell me that even you, who practically lives
with him, havent penetrated the secrets of the mysterious
Mr Manzini? Zam asked.
When it comes to business matters and his general
philosophy of life, I know his views quite well. But I dont
pry into his social life.
Pity, because I heard its quite a raucous social life he
leads, added Juanita.
Really? From what I see the guy is always working, I
protested.
Yes, but when you are Kent Manzini, the line between
business and pleasure is a very thin one, said Zam.
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
33/34
The Mentor Part1
33
I tried to push them for more details, but they clammed up
out of fear of saying too much and inadvertently revealing
their sources. They seemed genuinely surprised that I
couldnt dish any dirt on Kent. At first they thought I was
just being guarded but they knew me well enough to realise
that I was also in the dark about his personal exploits.
The next afternoon Kent asked me to accompany him to the
harbour after his talk. He said he wanted to show me some
of the concrete examples I always asked him about. We
drove the shipyards where we met a harbour official who
was expecting us. We were taken to one of the loading bays
where the cargo from a huge ship was being offloaded.
They had already opened one of the containers for us to
inspect. When he saw all the merchandise Kents mood
became bubbly and childlike. He had a huge smile on his
face and could barely contain his energy.
You see Molly, when I say something its not just empty
words. Let me show you how I turn ideas into money, he
led me towards the open container. He approached one of
the boxes and began taking off the packaging.
Remember that conversation with Gautam, my business
partner? he asked.
The one about AIDS and crime and how vain people are?
No, the one about how death sells in our country. I wasnt
just making conversation with the two of you. On the way
back to the hotel I sealed this deal with Gautam. He sends
us these from his factories in India where they cost next to
nothing to make, and we supply them here, where there is
always a need for them. And thanks to the exchange rate,
we make a healthy profit! he said with a gleam in his eye.
He held up the first sample. It looked like a piece of canvasshaped like a sleeping bag. On closer inspection, when I felt
7/31/2019 The Mentor Part1
34/34
The Mentor Part1
it, it was slimmer, unpadded and made of a very thin plastic
material. It had the Manzihealth logo printed at the top and
the bottom, and a zip around the edges.
You see, this is how you turn death from a negative to a
positive, Molly. If we want to prosper we have to exploit all
our resources. And the Lord knows that dead bodies are a
resource we have in abundance here. These body bags are
going to revolutionise our business. Ive already got the
contract to supply them to the public hospitals and
morgues in four different provinces. And when other
hospitals notice how cheap we are, theyll come on board
too. What you are looking at here is the next instalment in
my fortune.
For some reason I couldnt share his enthusiasm.