South Africa’s technology leaders approach reading as a source of insight, development and balance in their professional and personal lives. Their selections reflect a blend of leadership philosophy, industry awareness and personal curiosity.
South Africa’s CIOs turned to a wide range of books to refine their leadership, stay grounded and expand their thinking in 2025. Their reading lists reveal the ideas shaping how they lead teams, navigate industry shifts and manage personal growth. From leadership science to fiction that offers mental balance, these are the titles that guided the country’s top technology executives.
Dr Bongani Andy Mabaso, group CTO, Altron
Dr Andy refers to Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown’s Multipliers as a book that reshaped his leadership philosophy. “The book is about being a leader who multiplies and empowers others to lead and it changed the way I think about leadership,” he says. He notes that he encourages his team to learn and experiment, adding “if something goes wrong, we can learn together and improve”. Read his full interview here.
David Price, CIO, Life Healthcare
David gravitates toward biographies and economics. He shared that he read a biography of hotel magnate Sol Kerzner. He admires Sol’s ability to deliver large scale visions while also acknowledging the critical reflection needed in leadership. Read his full interview here.
Phakama Qoboshiyana, Standard Bank SA Risk CIO
Phakama cited Atomic Habits by James Clear and No-Drama Discipline by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson. She applies both gradually, noting that they offer practical examples that align with her routines and parenting approach. “Both books are easy to understand, and both have practical stories and examples that bring those learnings to life,” she explains.
She also draws inspiration from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie whose “powerful storytelling abilities, courage in tackling uncomfortable stereotypes and ability to use her talent to influence change” continue to resonate with her. Read her full interview here.
Obey Makuvele, head of IT, Redefine Properties
Obey splits his time between cycling, walking, music and his MBA studies. His book collection is extensive with what he describes as “far too many to read”. He describes The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki as one of the books that helped guide him in 2025. The book examines why groups can outperform individuals. “I read a lot about leadership and self-development,” he notes. “I'm not a fiction, movie or series guy.” Read his full interview here.
Chris Shortt, group CIO, Shoprite Group
Chris’s reading has evolved from sports autobiographies to a mix of fiction and non-fiction. “Reading books on fiction can be a great way to unwind and distract the mind, especially considering my profession,” he explains. He maintains visibility into developments across cloud, developer ecosystems, AI and strategic partner activity.
He enjoyed Steven Bartlett’s The Diary of a CEO and prefers audio formats. “I’m an audio learner,” he says. His reading and listening interests include Jeffrey Archer, Yuval Harari, Malcolm Gladwell and Jim Collins. Read his full interview here.
