Selwyn Chatz is the CEO of Chatz Connect and Vodacom 4U, the two biggest cellular retail chains in South Africa.
He is perhaps better known for his elaborate collection of hypercars, estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of rand.
The entrepreneur has come a long way since growing up in the small town of Kroonstad in the Free State.
While he has kept out of the public spotlight for much of his career, he revealed at least a few details of how he became a successful businessman in an interview for the 2021 Absa Jewish Achiever Awards.
Chatz said his first experience in business was as a teenager working part-time at his father’s butchery.
He needed to report for duty each morning at 05:00, and his father did not accept “tardiness”, which helped form his philosophy that no one’s time was more important than anyone else’s.
While in high school from 1972 to 1978, Chatz strove for financial independence with various creative ventures, including as a DJ.
After school, his first full-time job was at Andrews Jewellers. He later left to join his father-in-law’s business, the Shaw Group, which had entered the cellular industry with Shaw Cellular in 1994.
He secured a deal to sell airtime and handsets for Vodacom, which was just starting out in South Africa.
Over time, Chatz bought out other Shaw Group shareholders and consolidated several independent stores under one banner — Chatz Connect — which he registered in 2003.
Considering the retailer’s impressive performance up to that point, Vodacom CEO Alan Knott-Craig awarded Chatz a second management agreement to run its newly-formed Vodacom 4U stores.
As of 2022, Chatz Connect had grown its footprint to over 165 stores across South Africa, making it South Africa’s largest independent dealer channel, while Vodacom 4U’s store tally stood at 73.
Chatz has served as CEO of Chatz Connect and Vodacom 4U until today. Counting his initial years at Shaw Cellular, he has led Vodacom’s retail business for 30 years.
Chatz has described himself as dedicated, determined, and passionate.
His life mantra is “Don’t fear failure, rather fear not trying” and his business philosophy “Don’t make excuses; make improvements.”
In addition to his achievements in business, Chatz has completed the Comrades marathon three times and was once a licenced pilot.
A car collector of note
While Chatz mostly keeps out of the limelight, his love for cars has often drawn the attention of petrolheads and the general South African public.
His astounding vehicle collection is possibly one of the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere.
It reportedly includes one of just eight Pagani Huayra Imolas, a hypercar valued at more than R100 million, spotted in Stellenbosch in December 2023.
Among the many other vehicles rumoured to be in his collection are the following:
- Aston Martin DBS II Scintilla Silver
- Ferrari F12 TDF
- Ferrari 488 Pista
- Two Ferarri LaFerrari Apertas
- McLaren 675LT Spider MSO HS
- Pagani Huayra Roadster
Chatz’s love of cars also caught the attention of Rolls-Royce, which featured him in one of its The Spirit of Rolls-Royce episodes on YouTube.
The Phantom model Chatz owns is a one-of-a-kind featuring bespoke artwork by acclaimed South African artist Dr. Esther Mahlangu.
The Phantom was priced at R7 million in 2020, before Mahlangu added her personal touch.
Chatz said because he feels “very African”, he did not want the car to end up anywhere else in the world.
He also explained that a common bond for configuring cars was one of the things that kept his family close.
Below is the episode of Spirit of Rolls-Royce featuring Selwyn Chatz and his one-of-a-kind Rolls-Royce phantom.
