I have been by Raymond's side right from the beginning of his career in retail. He was working at Ackermans those days and he'd bring his invoices and we'd lay on the carpet and add up the invoices. In every position he'd take, I'd be there, helping, absorbing, learning and teaching.

In the mid-fifties, women didn't work. I only realised how unfulfilled I'd been when handed some responsibility by my parents. The experience of being in charge of something and doing it well inspired young me.

When we first got married, we read a book called Something of Value by Robert Ruark, about Mau Mau. In the book, Ruark analyzed what happened to the Mau Mau and it said that when you take customs and traditions away from people, you've got to give them something of value in return. Now, in the company that Raymond was working for, they took little retail stores where they had service, they had delivery, they had accounts and they took all that away. 

Rich people love low prices, poor people need them. Consumer sovereignty - you must care for your community.

From the start, Pick n Pay was a non-discriminatory company. Realising the conditions their black managers lived in, Wendy decided to do something about it. After a few iterations to her plan and a lot of red tape, she secured her staff safe homes.

I called the women in the office together and said to them, "I know what it's like to be a working woman. I know the stresses and the problems that you have as a working woman. If you're working because you need the job and you just want a job - a nine to five and then you go home and handle home - that's perfectly alright and that is how it should be. If there are those of you who need a career, because they feel they want a career, we will offer you a career." Several women stepped forward and they wanted a career. They eventually rose to general management.

A site came up in Constantia, where we happen to live, and my husband wanted to build a hypermarket there and I said, "It's inappropriate. It's inappropriate for the area - this is a really historic area. They've had wine farms here since the 1600s." I said "You can't change the whole atmosphere of Constantia by putting up a big commercial statement here - all the trucks and the lorries and the cars and everything. A nice store, fine. People need it, but not a hypermarket."

Diversity should be expected and accepted in a country as diverse as South Africa. Diversity brings with it different ideas and viewpoints, which are key for business success. 

I would imagine that a bully is a coward and a man who beats up a woman, is a coward. Don't be afraid to be without him. You can make it on your own. It's hard, it's lonely, it's dangerous, but you can do it. Don't let him beat the confidence out of you. Stand up to it, pick up your things and walk out. It doesn't matter how hard it is to get started again. Whatever it is, it's better than being abused, physically, mentally, emotionally - whatever it is. However much it takes, it is better than living in fear and terror for the rest of your life. It's unacceptable.

One must remember that there are appropriate ways to conduct business - dress, punctuality etc. Stay confident, persistent and take pride in your work.