Jacques Cronje

My sister Nicola knew Jacques before I did, as her partner Grant and him were also mates. A few years older than me, Jacques is a tremendously clever individual who loves to debate and chat about a range of topics.  He seems to imbue every encounter with a naturally flowing conversation - full of discovery and investigation - to leave you feeling relaxed and better informed. Taking some of his skills in timber-based architecture, Jacques has created a unique business called Minima that uses digitally-cut wood or bamboo to create lights and furniture made of pieces that are locked together without glue. The result is sophisticated, yet understated, functional items of beauty that make maximal use of raw materials so as to minimize waste.  Jacques is wonderfully complemented by his beautiful wife Rebecca who’s a powerhouse entrepreneur and marketer with her company Cultivate to the point that I think that they are each other’s ‘secret weapons’ in life. In fact, they have mutually influenced each other to become dedicated runners, both road and trail.  They also happen to be wonderful parents to a brood of dogs at their beautiful home in Capri, a magical part of Cape Town’s ‘Deep South’.